Sunday, October 7, 2012

BOTSWANA: Men not buying circumcision campaign

The Voice (Botswana)
October 6, 2012

UNPOPULAR CUT


By Daniel Chida
Only 360 out of 2560 men get circumcised

The number of men that took part in the Safe male Circumcision in the North West District has been disappointing, a report has revealed.

Out of the targeted 2560 men, only 360 have been circumcised so far, a figure that translates into a paltry 14 percent of the target group, the recently released North West District Development Committee Report has indicated.

The figures did not sit well with some NWD councillors who felt that there was a need for re-strategising the campaign to achieve better results.

First to address the disturbing matter at a full council meeting discussion which had female councillors in stitches was Makalamabedi South councillor, Moetetsi Mogalakwe who blamed the unimpressive turn out to the call for circumcision on the youth who were used to educate the public on the issue.

“Majority of the representatives of the campaign were young people who lacked the skills needed to convince older people like us to be circumcised. Apart from anything else the subject is too embarrassing for young people to engage in with men old enough to be their fathers.”

The councillor also blamed the ‘Banana’ symbol used in adverts promoting circumcision for the poor turn out, arguing that it was too comical to be taken seriously.

Councillor for Kubung ward Pelokgale Monyamme however claimed that many older men did not respond to the call because it was too risky for those over the age of 45 because they would take too long to heal.

Monyamme further noted that instead of the campaign focusing all the attention on men,government needed to involve women too because they had influence on decisions taken by their spouses.

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