120,00 guys needed

The Health Ministry is looking for another 120 000 guys by December to undergo Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision.

The Ministry is running a campaign targeting to have more than 200,000 guys circumcised by the end of the year. That leaves another month to get the snip.

Why are they pushing this? Male circumcision reduces a guy's chances of HIV infection by up to 60%. They want to prevent 380,000 new HIV infections by the year 2030.

Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya says they want to make high quality and safe male circumcision services available to all HIV-negative guys with the hope to see zero new HIV infections.

He said some communities still believed that male circumcision can prevent pregnancy, cause impotence or erectile dysfunction and cure a man who is HIV positive.

This is not true.

Male circumcision reduces a guy's chances of HIV infection by up to 60%. But it doesn't reduce the risk for your lady so you still have to use condoms.

VMMC services done by trained providers can be found at the University Teaching Hospital Adult Infectious Disease Clinic, Kamulanga and Chawama clinics in Lusaka. Not in Lusaka? Don’t stress, go to your nearest local clinic and find out if they offer VMMC services.