By MUNAMBEZA MUWANEI –

MALE circumcision has continued to attract more people in local communities in different parts of the country.
Recently, Ndola District conducted a six-week medical circumcision exercise, which saw more than 7,000 males circumcised during the campaign.
Ndola District medical officer, Kakungu Simpungwe described the campaign, which started on August 1, 2015 and ended on September 16, 2015 in 10 health centres, as a success.
Dr Simpungwe said during the campaign, a total number of 7,401 males were circumcised.
Of the 7,401 circumcised, 3,725 were children aged up to 14 years, while those from 15 to 49 years were 3,668. Adults aged from 50 years and above were eight.
Ndola District Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV coordinator Weston Mwanza said before the surgery, about 7,383 males underwent HIV tests.
Out of this number, 7,355 tested negative, 28 were positive while the rest opted not to test.
Male circumcision is currently being conducted in all the health centres in the district, including Ndola Central Hospital (NCH) and Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital.
NCH male circumcision provider, Nancy Mupaya said male circumcision is the oldest surgery which was conducted in the biblical times.
Ms Mupaya called on members of the public to take advantage of the service being conducted at the various centres to acquire more information.
“This service is free of charge and because it offers 60 per cent protection against HIV, people should take advantage of it,” she said.
Before the exercise is carried out, clients are counselled on the benefits of male circumcision.
Ms Mupaya said the clients are also examined and those requiring medical attention are referred for such.
The World Health Organisation recommends abstinence for six weeks for all men undergoing voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in order to allow for complete wound healing.
A total of 21, 929 males were in 2014 circumcised at some health centres in Ndola, with NCH carrying out 1,364.
According to the VMMC communication and advocacy strategy of 2012-2015, VMMC should neither be viewed as a substitute for existing HIV prevention efforts nor as a “magic bullet” for HIV prevention, but rather as an effective addition to the existing preventive strategies.
VMMC is a promising HIV revention intervention that could avert 339,632 new HIV infections by 2025 among men and women in Zambia, resulting in significant cost-saving for the health sector while improving the lives of millions.