Harare, 24 March 2010-(The Herald)- Zimbabwe can reduce HIV prevalence by between 35 and 50 percent if half of the three million sexually active male adults are circumcised.

This was revealed recently in Kadoma at a National Aids Council-organised media editors’ meeting.

Dr Owen Mugurungi, who is in charge of HIV and Aids programmes in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare said male circumcision had been proven to be one of the most effective ways of reducing HIV transmission.

"If half of the three million men who are sexually active in Zimbabwe are circumcised, HIV prevalence will come down by between 35 and 50 percent," he said.

Health experts say circumcising people who are already HIV positive does not help because the procedure only assists in reducing men’s infection chances though they will still spread it just as much as their uncircumcised counterparts.

However, none of the male editors present took up the offer to be circumcised, highlighting how unpopular the procedure still is in Zimbabwe.

Even presenters from UNAids and the Zimbabwe National Network for People Living positive with HIV, among others, were non-committal.

There is no disputing the pain involved and circumcised men cannot have sexual intercourse for six weeks after the procedure.

Circumcision services are offered at Spillhaus at Harare Hospital, Mutare Provincial Hospital, Karanda Mission in Mt Darwin, and Manyame Air Base for the uniformed forces.

Dr Mugurungi said they wanted to circumcise 100 000 men this year but would most likely manage 30 000 due to resource limitations.

To date, the ministry has circumcised about 3 300 men as of January this year.

Doctors say clinical circumcision is clean and safe.

Male circumcision is practised worldwide for religious, cultural, social and medical reasons. Regions where male circumcision is common have lower HIV prevalence than others.

Statistics show some countries have reduced HIV prevalence by between 50 and 60 percent through male circumcision, but figures for Zimbabwe are currently unavailable.

In Kenya, 80 percent of men aged between 15 and 64 are circumcised. Studies show HIV prevalence among uncircumcised males is more than three times higher than among circumcised males.

In Zimbabwe, about 1,1 million people are living with HIV; 40 percent do not know their HIV status; 160 000 children are infected; while 17 000 more are infected annually. The country’s HIV prevalence rate currently stands at 13,7 percent.