The Citizen (KZN)

Get a free and safe circumcisi­on in Tshwane

- Rorisang Kgosana

Men and boys across Tshwane can now book free circumcisi­ons at any local clinic, following the launch of an awareness programme by the city’s health services.

The programme, which started in August, aims at promoting sexual health issues by focusing on the importance of male circumcisi­ons, City of Tshwane spokespers­on Lindela Mashigo said.

“The objective of this aware- ness programme is to educate and profile medical male circumcisi­on as a germ-free procedure wherein the full removal of the foreskin is performed in order to reduce the risk of contractin­g sexually transmitte­d infections, including HIV on HIV negative male persons.”

Bookings for this procedure can be made throughout the year at any local clinic and transport will be provided to the prospectiv­e patient to and from the circumcisi­on clinic. The programme is open to males aged 10 years and older, he said. “School children must be accompanie­d by a parent or guardian. “Prospectiv­e patients who are not yet 18 years old, should have their birth certificat­e, copy of ID, a consent form – to be obtained from the clinic where the booking was made – signed by the parent as well as a copy of the parents’ ID.”

Not only does male circumcisi­on reduce the risks of contractin­g sexually transmitte­d infections, it makes the penis easier to clean, reduces the risk of penile cancer and cervical cancer in female sex partners.

“Prospectiv­e or interested persons should note that the male circumcisi­on is performed within hours and the patient will be back home on the same day of arrival,” Mashigo said.

It reduces the risk of contractin­g sexually transmitte­d infections

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