MEDIA STATEMENT (Draft V4, 24 May 2013)

Circumcision promotion campaign for higher education sector

Pretoria, 30 May 2013 – The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Pretoria today hosted the launch of a voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) promotion campaign at universities.

The VMMC campaign is an important element of an increasingly comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme in the higher education and training sector that is being driven by the Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS), which also champions HIV counselling and testing and other prevention, treatment and support services.

Medical male circumcision is now firmly considered an effective HIV prevention measure, which reduces the risk of acquiring HIV by about 60%. Evidence shows that the inner skin of the foreskin is more likely to absorb HIV than any other skin, as it is more prone to small tears during sex. There are also cells within the foreskin that attract the HI virus.

However the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who addressed the launch, was quick to stress that circumcision is not totally protective against HIV and that consistent condom use was necessary.

The launch programme included a number of circumcisions undertaken at the TUT campus clinic with the assistance of the Minister, who is a qualified medical doctor.

Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, Director of HEAIDS, explained that where university clinics are fully equipped, students and staff may book in for the procedure by a trained health professional under safe conditions and will receive pre-counselling and proper follow up care.

“Where universities do not have the facilities, they will be referred off campus to nearby government health facilities that are offering high volume services, supported by PEPFAR (CDC/USAID) MMC service delivery partners” he said.

The promotion campaign enjoys the core support of the Department of Health and of Brothers’ for Life, a collaborative effort aimed at young men that involves over 100 partners working in the field of HIV prevention and health. Government already offers free medical male circumcision (MMC) services and Brothers’ for Life, led by Johns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa (JHHESA) with funding from USAID/PEPFAR, has been driving a demand-creation strategy to support the roll-out of MMC in South. It involves a database of services that uses GPS technology to enable people to access their closest MMC site.

Speaking directly to young men at the launch, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr MduduziManana said unequal gender relations had to be addressed in any response to HIV.

“Through this circumcision promotion campaign we are speaking to men to step up to the plate and to own some responsibility in sexual and reproductive health,” he said. “Historically, our women have borne the greater responsibility for this,” he said.

ends

About HEAIDS:

The Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) is an initiative of the Department of Higher Education and Training that is undertaken by Higher Education South Africa (HESA) to support public universities and Further Education and Training colleges in responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic through their core functions of learning and teaching, research and innovation, and community engagement.

The programme is rooted in a concept of the responsibility of HEIs & FETs to address the pandemic on a human rights basis on at least five fronts:

  • Developing HIV prevention programmes for students and staff and facilities for the treatment, care and support of students and staff living with HIV.
  • Providing a comprehensive workplace HIV/AIDS programme that caters to the needs of staff.
  • Educating and equipping students to make a contribution to the national HIV/AIDS response in their future career fields.
  • Conducting research to strengthen society's ability to resist and ultimately overcome the pandemic.
  • Providing HIV/AIDS services to related communities through outreach projects and training programmes.

About Brothers for Life:

Brothers for Life campaign is the National Men’s Campaign being undertaken in partnership with the SANAC Men’s sector, the Department of Health, USAID/PEPFAR, UNICEF, UNAIDS, Sonke Gender Justice, SABC Education, SABC 1, , e.tv, other broadcasters, the Daily Sun and more than 100 other civil society partners working in the field of HIV prevention and health. The campaign seeks to mobilise men to take action to prevent HIV/AIDS through promoting partner reduction, consistent condom use and responsible alcohol consumption), 2) promote the uptake of HIV testing and treatment amongst men, 3) male involvement in pregnancy, childbirth and fatherhood, 4) men’s sexual and reproductive health, including male circumcision, and 5) addressing gender-based violence.