Bridging the divide on male circumcision in war on Aids

The experts presented data from three sets of research, which indicated that the cut was vital. Mr Odinga said the community should not stigmatise those who had accepted the practice, arguing that would reverse the gains.

Among MPs who attended were ministers Anyang’ Nyong’o, James Orengo and Dalmas Otieno. Others were Ayiecho Olweny, Oburu Oginga, Pollyns Ochieng’, Fred Outa, Shakeel Shabir and Olago Aluoch.

Medical Services minister, Prof Nyong’o, said that according to the latest reports, more people from the region were opting to go to hospitals for the cut, adding that the Government would provide affordable and eventually free services for those who have opted to be circumcised.

In most cultures, the practice is used as right of passage, and that was one reason elders expressed fears they were being encouraged to embrace other cultures.

But Public Service minister, Mr Otieno, said instead of opposing the cut on traditional grounds, elders should revive the positive aspects of Luo culture that would set them apart from the rest.

He said: “Let’s save our people to love our culture.” Women, religious and the disabled groups were not left behind. The special groups were among the first to publicly declare their support for the male cut.

They asked the Government to incorporate their ideas into the national policy set to be launched later this year.

“The cut is good, and as women representatives, we can only advise the Government and the researchers to bring the services down to the rural areas,” said author Asenath Odaga.

According to Mrs Odaga, information was not reaching the rural areas. She said: “Some men are silently taking the cut behind the backs of their partners, which has caused divisions in families.”

Ms Amina Akello of the Asalam Muslim Women Forum said the cut should be encouraged for hygiene and health.

“For us Muslims, it (the cut) is mandatory, but we would want the Government to bring the services down to the people,” Ms Akello said.

Bondo MP Oginga, and an assistant director of medical services, Dr Peter Cherutich, urged opponents of the cut to look at its health benefits.

“Were traditions to serve man or man to serve tradition?” Dr Oginga asked. Nyanza Province leads in HIV prevalence at 15 per cent, Dr Cherutich said.

The province, he added, needed to accommodate new ideas to bring down the risk of HIV infection. The country prevalence figure as contained in the Kenya Aids Index survey by Nascop stands at 7.4 per cent.

The survey found that 1.4 million adults in Kenya are living with the virus, with Nyanza contributing 50 per cent of these.