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Malawi Catholic endorse circumcision for Aids prevention

By Thom Chiumia, Nyasa Times

February 1, 2012   ·   64 Comments

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Malawi Catholic Bishops have endorsed government’s move to have male  subjects circumcised as  significant intervention towards the reduction of the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Strong medical evidence suggests that men without a foreskin are 60 percent less likely to get HIV, the virus that can lead to deadly killer AIDS.

But the Catholic Bishops at a plenary meeting in Lilongwe recommended that the circumcision should be conducted in its health facilities and not at homes or other places.

Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) spokesman Father George Buleya said they made the decision to support circumcision after consultation with the church’s health experts.

“Circumcision can reduce the risk of catching diseases through sexual intercourse. We have examined theological texts and found no opposition to it,” the cleric said.

He, however, said the influential Catholic church was still opposed to condom usage as contraception.

Low levels of male circumcision, inconsistent and low condom use, mother to child transmission (MTCT), multiple and concurrent partnerships (MCP), are some of the main drivers of HIV/AIDS.

Reasonable prevention

Father Buleya said the Catholic bishops noted that circumcision is a reasonable prevention method when combined with other measures

“Abstinence and faithfulness are still the only sure ways to protect against this virus,” he said.

The Catholic Church says their messages of sexual abstinence and faithfulness in marriage have significantly helped to fight HIV.

It warns that circumcision should not make people feel that they have become vaccinated against the disease and ignore safer sexual practices.

Circumcision is common among Muslims and some tribes in Malawi, but is not universally practiced.

Since reports emerged that circumcision may slow the spread of HIV, an increasing number of men have flocked to hospitals for the procedure.

Expert report

According to Sydney Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Norman Blumenthal , circumcision reduces by up to five  times the risk of the man’s female partner being infected by Chlamydia or getting cervical cancer (which is caused by human papillomavirus).

He says credible research shows that most women prefer the appearance of the circumcised penis. They also prefer it for sexual activity. Hygiene is one reason; increased contact of the penis with the vaginal wall, and stimulation, are others.

In general, sexual function and sensation are the same or better in circumcised men. The problem of overly tender sensitivity of the head of the penis experienced by most uncircumcised men is virtually eliminated.

Tags: circumcision, HIV/Aids, Roman Catholic Church

64 Responses to “Malawi Catholic endorse circumcision for Aids prevention”

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1. 64

   CaGo Says:

   February 17th, 2012 at 3:02 pm

   
   

   Our Lord is the God of order,he declared already circumcision and we claim to be born again,yet we do not follow god’s commands.Same uprise to food there are food to eat and some ather things that loos as food to us,but God said we should not eat.You find a well educated person insisting to do contrary to God words,please lord remind us your people. Like 0 Reply

2. 63

   Gregory Boyle, PhD, DSc Says:

   February 15th, 2012 at 5:10 pm

   
   

   Flawed African Studies into Male Circumcision and Sexual Transmission of HIV See: Boyle GJ, Hill G. sub-Saharan African randomised clinical trials into male circumcision and HIV transmission: Methodological, ethical and legal concerns. J Law Med 2011;19:316-334. The (Australian) Journal of Law and Medicine has published a new critique of those three randomized clinical trials from Africa that have purported to find that male circumcision reduces female-to-male sexual transmission of HIV by 60 percent. This critique finds numerous flaws in the execution of these studies and finds that the actual reduction in HIV transmission is about 1.3 percent, not the claimed 60 percent. The 1.3 percent is not considered to be clinically significant. This is offset by a 61 percent relative increase in male-to-female HIV transmission when the male partner is circumcised. Given this, the three RCTs should not be used in the formulation of public health policy. See attached pdf file: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/december112011/circumcision-hiv-rg.php Like 1 Reply

3. 62

   UCHINGAUSIKU(San Francisco) Says:

   February 11th, 2012 at 10:32 am

   
   

   Akhristu apa ife tinachedwa koma baibulo linatiuza kale zodulidwa. Ndikudziwa mamaka ife achikatolikafe mpingo wathu tinausiya mmanja mwama Italians. Iwo aja anangotiunjikira zimalamulo zachikhalidwe chawo chopembeza mafano chama Romans osati malamulo amulungu. Ndipo akhristufe tienera kukamba chilungamu , kodi mchifukwa chiyani maiko achisilamu AIDS ndiyochepa kapena kuti kulibiletu ? Chitsanzo chabwino ndimaiko monga Saudi Arabia Yemen Indonesia Somalia pongotchulapo ochepa . Tikafika ku Malawi kuno tisanamizane apa maboma achisilamu monga Mangochi , Machinga , Chiradzulu Balaka , Zomba Nkhotakota , AIDS inafalikila chifukwa cha anthu obwera ochokera mmaboma ena chifukwa cha usodzi bizinezi ndi ntchito ; komanso anthu ochokera kunja mdzina la Tourism . Komatu chifukwa chenicheni pazonsezi ndikuiwala kwa asilamu malamulo awo amu Koran . Agwirizana ansembezi ndi umboni wokwanira woti baibulo sibukhunso loti ndikuthetsa mavuto athu atsikunditsiku . Tatieni tiiwelenge Koraniyi mwina mkupezamo chipulumutso . Tisamangowada asilamuwa pena msanje siipindula.. AMEN. Like 0 Reply

4. 61

   Naziya Says:

   February 10th, 2012 at 2:13 pm

   
   

   Circumcision or no circumcision what matters is you yourself. Siyani chiwerewere. If you encourage circumcision with those discription you have mentioned , are you helping the people or want them to get sick so that you should find jobs in organisations that deals with HIV/AIDs? stupid.kambani zina Like 3 Reply

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