In an attempt to lead by example in the fight against HIV-Aids, Apac district councilors have been circumcised, an act they believe will attract more men to get circumcised too.
This was revealed by the District Speaker, Felix Yine, at an anti-Aids training for fishermen from 12 landing sites in the district.
The training is the brainchild of the African Medical Research Foundation
(AMREF) and intended to fight the scourge among local communities, particularly fishing ones.
Yine revealed that at least six district councilors have since gone under the knife with many more gearing up.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the District Vice Chairman Asante Odongo is one of those councilors at the forefront of fighting the disease in the northern district, although he could not be reached for a comment as his phone was switched off.
Yine said landing sites are some of the most affected areas that is why they want the fishermen sensitized on the dangers of Aids and encourage them to get circumcised as a mitigating measure. He said they are also targeting urban centres.
Several researches conducted in Uganda, Kenya and South Africa suggest that male circumcision can reduce HIV infection by about 60 percent. As a result the government and many stakeholders have been promoting the practice as one of the measures to fight the scourge.
AMREF’s Programme Manager, Eriya Murana, said their effort is targeting fishermen, bar and hotel operators, boda-boda cyclists, drivers, business people, the police and other mobile people.
Apac district has a HIV prevalence of 8.2 percent, two percentage points above the national average of six percent.
