Circumcision

This week Siyayinqoba Beat It! looks at medical and traditional circumcision across South Africa. In 2009, King Goodwill Zwelithini of KwaZulu Natal (KZN) called for male circumcision to be made available in the province. Medical research has shown that circumcised males are up to 60% less likely to contract HIV. Once the foreskin has been removed, the entry point for the virus has been removed. This is how circumcision effectively reduces the risk of a man contracting HIV.

This year the KZN Department of Health launched a major campaign to circumcise males across the province. Dr Tshabalala from the KZN Department of Health explains that it came about as a result of King Isilo Samabandla's wish for circumcision to happen in the province, he wanted it done in a way that ensured no one would be injured or die as a result of circumcision. Dr Tshabalala however again emphasises the fact that although a circumcised man has a lower risk of contracting HIV compared to an uncircumcised man, it still does not mean that because they are circumcised they will not get the virus.

We meet two young men, Sanele Zulu and Thokozawi Xulu, from Richard's Bay who chose to get circumcised to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections and HIV & AIDS. "You think that it's going to be painful but really it's not," Sanele says. "They give you an injection and after a couple of minutes you get circumcised. Throughout the whole process they talk to you. So you know what they are going to do beforehand. Afterwards you get painkillers". Both friends went for an HIV test before getting circumcised. Dr Tshabalala agrees, "We encourage everyone to test for HIV and we also test for diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. Also because of the cutting that is done during the circumcision we check if the person has any bleeding disorders like haemophilia".

For these two friends from Richard's Bay getting tested was important: "We live in a world of HIV & AIDS so you have to prepare yourself that you may or may not have it. I personally don't see why anyone would be afraid," says Thokozawi. Both men still also use condoms to protect themselves, "I used condoms before and I'm going to continue using them now that I'm circumcised," says Sanele. Both also believe that it would be a good idea to circumcise boys while they are still young as they often become too scared to do it as they get older. Dr Tshabalala states that the KZN Department of Health agrees that circumcising babies, as long as parental consent is given, is a good long term plan.

In the Eastern Cape, most men prefer traditional circumcision "on the mountain" to Western circumcision at a hospital. Every year, however, there are reports about young men dying from complications arising from traditional circumcision.  Babini Dyonase (33) is a traditional nurse in the Chris Hani District, one of the areas that has a low death rate for initiates. He has a certificate in Safe Traditional Male Circumcision and Initiation, which he obtained in 2009.  "We need to discuss the issue that our boys are dying on the mountain. They are circumcised at an early age and are not supposed to die if they are well taken care of," Babini urges.

Siphamandla Xele who studies at Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha stays on campus. He and his friends Xakayi Lifa and Maqashu Athenkosi have been traditionally circumcised. "I think what will help is we must first accept the fact that in our generation there are diseases that we cannot ignore," Siphamandla states, "I think the important thing that we should focus on is that we shouldn't place the importance of tradition over human life. It's important to make human life the priority, more than tradition. Everything has its time and everything evolves."

When conducted in the right way, circumcision will be a powerful tool in the fight against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.