Male cut to cost Sh1.5b in five years, says State

By Elizabeth Mwai

The Government requires Sh1.5 billion to circumcise about a million Kenyans in the next five years.

This translates into about Sh300 million to circumcise 150,000 males annually at a cost of Sh2, 000 a person.

The National Aids and STDs Control Programme (Nascop) Director Nicholas Muraguri on Tuesday said circumcision has been adopted following research findings that it reduces HIV transmission by about 60 per cent.

"Male circumcision is being used as a preventive measure, but it can work better if used in combination with other mechanisms like abstinence and condom use," said Dr Muraguri.

Speaking at a city hotel during a media breakfast, Muraguri said circumcision would help reduce the incidents of new HIV cases that range between 55,000 and 100,000 annually.

Muraguri said circumcision would be free of charge and the Government would offer guidance and counseling during the exercise to curb new HIV infections.

However, he said, male cut does not offer full protection against HIV infection.

He warned people against casual sex without use of condoms.

He said polygamy is the main obstacle against tackling HIV in Kenya.

Muraguri said the culture is the reason the Government promotes couple counseling.

Family Health International senior programme manager Mores Loolpapit said the organisation was working with the Government on a communication strategy for the circumcision programme.

Dr Loolpapit said since last year they circumcised 18,000 people, majority in Nyanza Province, through the initiative.

He said about 84 per cent of Kenyan males were circumcised.

He advocated circumcision of children because they heal faster than adults.

Loolpapit said circumcision also lowered the chances of women contracting cervical cancer.

Circumcision has also been seen to reduce frequency of genital ulcers and sexually transmitted infections that lead to HIV infection.

Loolpapit said they experienced shortage of health personnel for the programme.