Leaders in circumcision talks

2010-01-19 13:27

Pietermaritzburg - More than 100 traditional heads and government leaders gathered at Pietermaritzburg’s Royal Show Grounds on Tuesday to discuss reviving the custom of male circumcision to prevent the spread of HIV.

The KwaZulu-Natal government recently decided to throw its weight behind Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini's plan to revive the custom which was abandoned by the Zulus decades ago.

In the documents circulated before the start of the Tuesday workshop, provincial government said a number of studies had shown that while male circumcision did not provide complete protection against HIV infection, it lowered the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission.

The workshop was attended by Premier Zweli Mkhize, health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo, corporate governance MEC Nomusa Dube and Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

A 2005 study in South Africa found that male circumcision reduced the risk of acquiring HIV infection by 60%, the KwaZulu-Natal government said.

Two studies in Uganda produced similar results.

“In a given act of unprotected sex with an HIV positive woman, a circumcised man has a 60% lower risk of getting infected than an uncircumcised man,” government said.

Government was however quick to point out that a circumcised man can still get infected.

- SAPA