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The KwaZulu-Natal government will soon start circumcising prisoners to reduce HIV infections among inmates, health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo said.
“We will soon start circumcising prisoners in our campaign to reduce infections,” he said.
A total of 10 229 male circumcisions had been done since the provincial government started the male medical circumcision programme in April this year.
Dhlomo said the department had a target of 2.5 million circumcisions by June 2014. Previously circumcisions among Zulus were conducted traditionally. With the permission from King Goodwill Zwelithini, government would be conducting them medically.
The provinces' male circumcision programmes are to get a R40 million boost in the current financial year, as part of the fight against Aids.
The Malaysian-made device, Tara KLamp is used to conduct circumcisions.
“In order to improve on the number the department is embarking upon various strategies and engaging with traditional leaders, churches, tertiary institutions and prisons,” said Dhlomo.
He said 148 circumcisions had been done at Qalakabusha Prison, 118 at Durban University of Technology and 157 at the University of Zululand in September.
KwaZulu-Natal’s major circumcision drive has been supported by the central government.
According to the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement tabled on Wednesday, the provinces' male circumcision programmes would get a R40 million boost in the current financial year, as part of the fight against Aids.
The money is part of an extra R100 million to scale up HIV and Aids prevention.
Dhlomo said he was happy that no one had been hurt during circumcisions.
His comments followed criticism from the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society and the Treatment Action Campaign, who said that while they supported male medical circumcision, they had concerns about the Tara Klamp.
They said the plastic device was associated with a very high rate of unpleasant events and pain compared to the standard medical forceps-guided circumcision technique.
Dhlomo said they would also circumcise priests.
“We believe that if we circumcise them, they will encourage members of their congregations to test.” - Sapa
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Ex South African, wrote
Am I reading this correctly??? Where is the scientific evidence that states “Circumcisions reduce HIV infections” Think this is total waste of money! Seriously, what the hell does the government think they are doing? Where has the basic economic supply and demand of housing and food gone???
cutting edge justice, wrote
What a waste of taxmoney. those who rape and live recklessly will get infected even if they have the op. There's still a huge risk and gov is doing what they did when Mbeki said late's eat 'beetroot and ginger' or was it garlic? The op may reduce infection rate but is not a cure. Anyway gov can't force the op on people. That would be against there constitutional rights. I see the 'beetroot mentality behind this. Why didn't they pay for all the scum in prison to go to the regional SEXPO's so they can get 'educated' and 'informed' about sexual behaviour. [well that's what the sleazy pervs say] What they should cut off the prisoners is the number of tv's, and meals and lazy hours hanging around ... Maybe also cut their time short for the murderers and rapists - give the death penalty which is quality cutting edge justice...
JW, wrote
R40-million for this project? These inmates should realise that if you do crime, you do the time - sorry, but that money could be far better spent on upgrading the sorry state our provincial hospitals are in and delivering better service to people who cannot afford expensive treatment. Let the criminal scum rot in prison - whuy the heck should we, the taxpayers fork out to keep them confortable???
Ludany, wrote
frank, wrote
People do you honestly want to know why we do more for criminals in south africa then to prevent crime? Because this is where the hatchery is to raise future leaders that the world will feel sorry for and blame their sins on something else, this is where the roots of the ANC lie in prison. It takes one to know one, perhaps one. Criminals are protected, allowed to have their skins chopped off while people are raped and murdered in south africa, the same people paying the for the prison wardens salary, putting food in the prisoners belly and now chopping off something to prevent them getting aids! i think inject all the prison inmates who are hard criminals with the disease, that way its not quite a death sentence beacause one "might" still find a cure. Oh yes please dont forget to vote ANC again!
LizzyE, wrote
Anonymous, LOL! There will be so many "skins" they could probably supply every school in the country with free suitcases!
douglas hendry, wrote
douglas hendry, wrote
LizzyE, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Really - this govt should get on with fighting crime etc. We do far too much for our prisoners, no wonder crime is so high. Now they have passed a law not allowing us to circumcise our male babies as its against their human rights - have you ever!!!!What about the poor child eho realises he is now different from his dad, his other brothers that have been done, his grandpa, his cousins etc. he will need counseling thinking something is wrong with him - this Govt must stop worrying about minor things and sort out the big stuff, corruption, crime unemployment etc.
Anonymous, wrote
What are going to do with all the foreskins? Here's a suggestion-stitch them into handbags. A couple of strokes and the handbag becomes a suitcase.
Paul, wrote
If they in Jail leave them to rot.. Rather spend the money on the poor and sick. If you insist on doing somethign for them, rather make it a lethal injection
Anonymous, wrote
I would just like to raise the point of Constituitional rights, a person Prisoner or a person not in prison should have the right to choice if it is a cultural issue eg. zulus this hould be respected and not imposed on somebody. Its seems that we are going into a facist resgeimn of Dictataion
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