A female MP in Tanzania has called for checks to determine whether or not her male associates have undergone circumcision – a procedure known to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Jacqueline Ngonyani claimed that MPs found not to have been circumcised should be required to undergo the procedure. Her suggestion divided opinion among her colleagues.
HIV is seen as a major threat to public health in Tanzania and approximately 70 percent of the male population is circumcised.
INFECTIONS
Around five percent of Tanzania’s adult population is believed to have been infected by HIV – giving it the 13th highest rate of infection in the world, according to data from 2016.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexual men contracting HIV by almost 60 percent.
A couple of African countries that are fighting HIV epidemics have launched campaigns to encourage men to undergo the procedure, which involves surgically removing the foreskin from the penis.
DEBATE
Ms. Ngonyani made the comments during a debate in parliament about how to curb the spread of HIV in the country and her suggestion was backed by MP Joseph Selasini.
In Kenya, some top politicians voluntarily submitted to the procedure back in 2008 as a way of encouraging men from their communities to do the same.
However, MP Joseph Kasheku opposed Ms. Ngonyani’s proposal, describing it as uncouth and invasive.
This is really interesting.
It is true that it will reduce the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS among other diseases.
Let’s see what happens