Photo: Johannesburg Development Authority  |
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After a group counselling session at the male circumcision clinic of the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), many men appeared to have decided to go ahead with the procedure. Several admitted they had made a decision before coming to the clinic.
"I've been told that if you're not circumcised you can get many diseases," said Lubinda, 26, a student who did not want to give his last name. "I heard Dr Bowa [director of the UTH clinic] on the radio and I discussed it with a friend, and we decided to come here together."
Disease prevention was not Lubinda's only concern. "I've heard that circumcised men perform better, because girls don't want a man 'landing fast'."
On a one-week follow-up visit, Stephen Mulundu, 35, an accountant, told IRIN/PlusNews, "I know I'm not 100 percent protected, that's why the counselling is very important."
According his friend, Evaristo Mbale, who had also had the procedure the week before, "If the information was inadequate, it was going to be very difficult for us to actually make a decision." Although married, both men cited the reduced HIV risk as their main motivation for being circumcised.
"I think we need more clinics specialising in this, so that people can be attended to quickly," said Mulundu. "More people will be coming, so there will be more congestion as time goes on."
Mbale agreed. "You'll be having a drink somewhere with friends and out of excitement you share with your friends and eventually more people will be interested and they will share with other people and it will be like a chain reaction."
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[ENDS]
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