Antony Chikutsa, a lecturer at a local university who is researching on male circumcision and HIV/AIDS for his PhD presented on the topic which generated a rich debate among the Premier boys.
Among other things, the boys wanted to know what the benefits of MC were, if HIV can still be contracted despite being circumcised. Experts at the forum explained that the fact that the chances contracting HIV were reduced compared to when one was uncircumcised was an advantage on its own.The students also wanted to know if those born with the virus could be tested and enjoy the benefits.
Others also sought clarification on why the sexually “inactive” were being targeted under the country’s MC policy yet they were “not of any risk” to society.
Some of the boys interviewed afterwards showed an understanding of the MC concept and seemed to appreciate its goals.
“I believe it (MC) is a good thing since it reduces chances of contracting the virus,” 16-year-old Hopemore Birimhiri, who is a Form IV student said.His science teacher, Edington Motsi said he also believed MC was a good idea.
Motsi said. “I managed to get six of my students circumcised with their parents’ consent.
“HIV is a reality in our society, including among students, so it is important that we help them get as much information about it as possible.”
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Motsi said there was however need to properly educate field officers who are campaigning for the strategy so they did not overemphasise aspects which may end up defeating the whole purpose.
“We have had people coming to schools to explain this strategy but sometimes you can see that someone is clueless so there is a need to arm field officers with quality information,” Motsi said. “If possible, we must have medical practitioners coming to schools to explain.
“Some people over-emphasise the sexual benefits of the strategy forgetting that schoolchildren do not organise to have sex. The approach at schools should be different to that targeting adults.”
Zimbabwe launched the MC policy in 2009 with Health minister Henry Madzorera saying it was an additional HIV prevention mechanism.
Back then, Madzorera said a government study to assess the acceptability of MC in Zimbabwe showed that 45% of men were interested in the procedure while other studies had put the figure as high as 62%.
Various studies have shown that when done correctly, MC reduces the risk of men being infected with HIV by 60%.
Zimbabwe hopes to circumcise 80% of males (ages 15-49) and newborn babies in the country by 2015.
Estimates show that scaling-up MC services to reach 80% of all adult and newborn males in Zimbabwe by 2015 would reduce the number of new adult HIV infections by more than 80% by the end of 2025.
What happens during circumcision?
MC involves the removal of the foreskin on the male organ to shrink the surface area where the virus can get through. Medical experts say the foreskin has a lot of cells which are targets for the virus and thus acts as the highway for the HIV virus to run through.
The male organ hardens with time after the removal of the foreskin. Experts say during sex, less cuts happen on a harder and stronger organ, thus reducing the transmission of HIV.
But sceptics have likened the strategy to the Russian roulette, a dangerous game in which one shoots at their head with a gun containing a single bullet in its chambers, and takes a chance on whether it will fire or not.
