Safe Male Circumcision Offers Men Added Protection Against HIV

What the report says

Health experts in Uganda are urging men and adolescent boys to consider voluntary medical male circumcision as part of HIV prevention, according to Nile Post. They say the procedure, when performed by trained professionals in a medical setting, can lower the risk of HIV transmission through heterosexual sex and also create a chance to offer other health services.

The report says the World Health Organization recommends voluntary medical male circumcision in places with higher rates of heterosexual HIV transmission. It describes the procedure as one element of a broader prevention package, not a replacement for condoms, HIV testing or other measures. Health workers quoted in the article said men who come for circumcision can also receive counselling, sexually transmitted infection screening, condoms and information on safer sex.

Nile Post also notes that the benefits can extend beyond HIV prevention, including some protection against certain sexually transmitted infections linked to human papillomavirus. At the same time, health officials warn that fear, pain concerns and misinformation still discourage some men from seeking the service, and they are advising people to avoid unsafe or unregulated procedures.

The Ministry of Health’s recognition of circumcision as one of Uganda’s HIV prevention tools provides wider context for the campaign. Health experts say increasing access to safe, voluntary services could support efforts to reduce new infections while encouraging men to take a more active role in their sexual and reproductive health.