Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. IN most rural communities, whispers and speculation still linger whenever the subject of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) comes up.
For many, the health benefits are clear, yet unanswered questions continue to stir unease.
Village head,Alphonce Singadi, captured the mood during a recent community engagement organised by the Health ministry and the National Aids Council (NAC) at Katema Clinic under Chief Jiri’s area in Gokwe South.
“We want to know how they dispose of those foreskins after circumcision,” he told NewsDay in an interview.
His words betrayed a common concern in rural communities, where myths around the fate of foreskins fuel suspicion, stigma and even resistance to the life-saving HIV prevention procedure.
“My worry is sexual sensation and pressure after circumcision,” Singadi expressed fear.
“I met two people who confessed that they started struggling to maintain erection after they were circumcised.
“They say it will take away a man’s strength. How can we be true men without it?”
VMMC is a critical component of the comprehensive HIV prevention strategy. However, its uptake is often hindered by a range of myths and misconceptions.
For years, health workers have been making campaigns promoting VMMC, but some people, especially in rural communities where correct information is scarce, have been hesitant.
Myths have been circulating, while some fear the procedure will make them weak.
Addressing these myths and beliefs is crucial as fear of sexual dysfunction can be the major deterrent, preventing men from accessing a vital HIV prevention measure.
VMMC is a proven biomedical intervention in reducing the risk of HIV transmission and three major randomised controlled trials by the World Health Organisation in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa found that circumcised men had a 50%-60% lower risk of acquiring HIV through hetero sexual sex compared to uncircumcised men.
In Zimbabwe, VMMC is estimated to have averted over 150 000 new HIV infections between 2009 and 2020, according to the Health and Child Care ministry data.
However, myths around the procedure remain the elephant in the room.
Another traditional leader in the area, Sorobi Chikati, said there was need for a robust awareness programme, particularly in rural areas, to demystify myths and misconceptions surrounding VMMC.
He spoke of the need to have responsible leadership that embraces new knowledge for the good of the people.
“I can’t be circumcised at this age. I am old. Maybe the younger boys can be educated on the benefits of VMMC and HIV prevention and get circumcised,” Chikati said.
“The problem is we have heard different versions about circumcision.Some say it causes erectile dysfunction.Some say it reduces sexual sensation, while others have lots of questions on how they [VMMC executors] dispose of those foreskins.
“So, I personally think the Health ministry and NAC should partner to educate people on those different beliefs.”
Gokwe South ward 24 (Masoro) councillor Cosmus Maketo applauded the HIV and Aids awareness campaigns that are being facilitated by the Health ministry and NAC in the area.
He indicated that the HIV intervention programmes have changed the behaviours of many, especially artisanal miners and sex workers in the area.
“These programmes have helped communities to condomise despite some of the myths and beliefs around the use of condoms,” he said.
According to a UNAids Global Report, in 2024, approximately 40,8 million people were living with HIV, with 1,3 million new infections and 630 000 Aids-related deaths globally.
The report highlights the need to boost resources and protect human rights to meet the 2030 goal of ending Aids.
NAC said it was intensifying community engagements to tackle myths and misconceptions around HIV prevention, particularly on VMMC, condom use and newer methods such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
NAC Midlands provincial manager MambewuShumba said the organisation has adopted grassroots dialogues as a way to bridge the gap between science and community beliefs, especially in rural areas where myths fuel resistance.
“We are implementing HIV programmes through community engagements meant to dispel myths around VMMC, condom use and others like PrEP,” he said.
“These interventions are helping people make informed choices, based on facts rather than fear.”
Shumba added that such engagements were critical to strengthening the country’s HIV prevention response, as stigma and misinformation remain some of the biggest barriers to uptake.
Zvishavane district has the highest HIV prevalence in the Midlands province, at 16,3%, followed by Shurugwi and Mberengwa districts at 14,6% and 13%, respectively.
Gokwe North has the lowest prevalence of 5%, while Gokwe South is at 5,9%.
As Zimbabwe accelerates its efforts to eliminate new HIV infections by 2030, NAC and its partners are implementing targeted intervention programmes.
One key initiative is the robust male engagement programme, which is actively reaching out to men and other key populations, such as artisanal miners in the Midlands province.
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