Zambia embraces circumcision as HIV/AIDS preventive measure

Zambian government has said it embraces all preventive projects aimed at reducing the spread of the HIV/AIDS such as the male circumcision because studies indicate that it reduces the risk of contracting the disease.

Officially launching the male circumcision program at Livingstone, capital of Southern province Thursday, Livingstone Mayor Fines Chidakwa said it is important to combine all the preventive efforts in order to make the fight against the pandemic as meaningful as possible, according to Zambia News and Information Services.

"Studies have indicated that male circumcision reduces the chances of one getting sexually transmitted infections as well as the deadly HIV/AIDS. So it is paramount that we embrace any new preventive measure or idea on how we can effectively combat this disease," Chidakwa said.

Livingstone district has the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of about 30 percent as compared with the national rate of 12 percent and the project has been hailed as a milestone in reducing the spread of the disease.

Speaking on the same occasion, Provincial Health Director Gardener Siakantu said the project has targeted 2,000 males from the previous 20 males over the last years.

He said the increase in the number has been made possible by funding from the HIV/AIDS Global funds whose aim is to widen preventive measures apart from other steps such as condoms and abstinence among others.

"However, the onus is on everyone to ensure that all preventive measures are effectively implemented through change of sexual behavior for the better," he said.

Source: Xinhua