First summer circumcision death

2009-11-13 22:15

Cape Town - As the Eastern Cape recorded its first death of the summer circumcision season, the province's health department on Friday urged parents to play a stronger role in protecting their sons.

Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the 19-year-old youth died of dehydration last week at an initiation school in the Butterworth area of Transkei.

Last month, following 55 deaths in the winter season, the department and traditional leaders held a summit on circumcision in Mthatha.

Kupelo said the department would now work even more closely with traditional leaders and the police in combating abuses.

"We will continue making arrests of those who disregard the circumcision law," he said.

"We will continue our rescue operations and the safe circumcision education campaign."

He said the department remained concerned that despite all its efforts, lives were still being lost.

Parents should be at the forefront in looking after the interests of their own children, and should work with the provincial government to ensure they were properly treated at initiation schools, Kupelo said.
 

- SAPA