THE EVOLUTION OF MALE CIRCUMCISION

Male circumcision is the commonest and one of the oldest surgical procedures carried out in non-medical and surgical settings in Africa.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), male circumcision has approximately 60% potential of reducing the risk of acquiring HIV infection and other Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Male Circumcision has been a topic taken by most males with  mixed feelings. Most males decide not to be circumcised because of the pain of the procedure before it heals and the many hours of absenting from work and other productive activities before complete healing.

Nevertheless, the good news is that, a new method of circumcision which is very convenient called Prepex was introduced in 2013 and launched in June 2017 in Zambia.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said that a test in conjunction with Jhiego was done on 499 people in Lusaka to see how effective the PrePex Method was.

Sample size	499
Participants age range	18 – 49 years
Mean age	25 years
Prepex study setting	Two fixed clinics in Lusaka New start YMCA Chachacha Male Circumcision Centres
Timing of the study	October 2013-April 2014

He said the new method was launched in 2017 in Zambia after all tests were done to see how safe and effective it was.

In addition, the minister said that the centres offering PrePex method of circumcision are; Matero Clinic, UNZA Clinic, Mazabuka Hospital and Livingstone General Hospital.

What is the Prepex Method of Circumcision?

The University of Zambia (UNZA) Nursing officer, Joyce Mwandila said the PrePex method is a non-surgical male circumcision procedure for adults and adolescents which uses a PrePex device.

The officer said that the school clinic through their response team commenced a health talk program aimed at sensitizing students on HIV and AIDS and sexual reproduction within campus in July 2017, where they recorded a turn out  of 280 males being circumcised with the PrePex method by the month of October in the same year.

Moreover, the equipment applies controlled radial elastic pressure to the foreskin between a rigid inner ring and an elastic ring to gently stop distal blood flow.

PrePex involves no injected anesthesia, no surgery, no sutures and no sterile settings. It simply means you don’t have to miss work to do it.

An interview with a 3^rd year student at UNZA Albert Chirwa, yielded that the PrePex

Albert Chirwa (l) and one of UNZA Clinic doctors after the removal of the PrePex device-File

 method is better than the surgical method which he thinks is less painful.

He said he was hesitant to go for Male Circumcision in the past but the inception of the talked about new method assured him less pain and opted him to go for it with no regrets.

THE PROCEDURE

The procedure is in three easy steps

• Step 1

Register with the clinic that you would want to be circumcised from, then you get a series of vaccinations to avoid future possible tetanus infections.

• Step 2

Placement of the PrePex Device.

• Step three

Go back to the clinic after 7 days for the PrePex device to be removed.

PrePex device used in the new method of Male Circumcision-Picture by Hannah Kaniini

Why this new method?

Dr. Chitalu Chilufya said the PrePex circumcision procedures have been offered as part of the minimum package of HIV prevention services recommended by Zambia’s Ministry of Health.

 Are there any side effects?

Wankumbu Simukonda, UNZA response team member-Picture by Hannah Kaniini

UNZA Response team member Wakumbu Simukonda said the side effects are minor such as urinary retention and localised wound infections after removal of the device and slight pain during removal of the PrePex device.

Male circumcision in Africa is a procedure that has been proven to be of public health significance in the reduction of the scourge of HIV infection while also leading to reduction in prevalence of some other STIs.

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Credits

Writer; Margaret Malilo

Source; Misheck M. Chipenzi

Editor; Kachabe Hamattan, Kutasha Mulenga

Text Layout; Virginia Chilongo, Faith Hamayanda

Photography; Hannah Kaniini

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Source; Chilufya Chitalu, Minister, Joyce Mwandila, UNZA Nursing officer, Alberty Chirwa, Student, Wankumbu Simukonda, UNZA Response team member.

 

THE 2018 MULUNGUSHI JUST ENDED EXPO BOTH A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS.

 

MANY government officials lauded the just ended 2018 Mulungushi Investment Expo as all inclusive and gave everyone a chance to showcase their potential.

But what is that the truth of the matter? Is it true that that everyone was given a realistic chance to show case their potential at the Expo?

Nevertheless, a talk with one Rebecca Ntebeka seemed to suggest otherwise.

Ms. Ntebeka is a basket maker from Kabwe’s Lukanga Township who wanted to show to the world her business at the platform.

But when she went to get a chance from the organizers of the just ended expo, she claimed that she was told she could only go ahead if she could pay a minimum of K 1000.

“Balinjeba ati nkalete K1000 pakwebaba ati nkachite display ma baskets yandi,” Ms. Ntebeka said.

Now imagine extracting a k1000 for a poor basket maker so that she gets allowed to showcase her business, isn’t that tying a stone on a dog already struggling to swim? This question is all what the poor desire to be responded to.

However,  not everyone is going to tell you the same thing, if you ask Trade kings, Davis and Shirtliff and many other big companies, they will tell, “The event was a success and we showed the world our potential.”

Image from https://www.facebook.com › Places › Lusaka, Zambia

Additionally even the Provincial Minister in the name of Maxwell Kabanda said the expo was a story of success.

“The Expo further revealed the various drivers which would steer the Province to sustainable development,” Kabanda said.

CAN KABANDA’S RECOMMENDATIONS OFFER EQUAL CHANCES TO THE OPPRESSED IN SIMILAR EVENTS IN FUTURE?

The minister said the Central Province had unexploited abundant natural resources making it an epitome of agriculture and  other economic activities in the country, which led him mention some like tourism, mining and rich cultural heritage.

“The Dr. David Livingstone Memorial Site, the Nsalu Caves, the Kasanka National Park with its migration of bats as some of the factors influencing the demand for tourists in the Province,” Kabanda cited.

Mr. Kabanda acknowledged the support from all the traditional leaders in the Province who witnessed the official opening of the event by President Edgar Lungu  which surely showed unity of purpose which should be nurtured.

Maxwell Kabanda (standing in the middle-left), Central Province Minister speaking during the investment expo at Mulungushi University-by Margaret Malilo

He said it was a realization for the need to create market linkages with the small and medium scale farmers in order to build a strong and dynamic industrial nation for sustainable job creation.

The Provincial Minister made a statement of concern that there is need to market Kundalila Falls for safe, reliable and affordable energy for the citizenry which would lead to more power supply in the country.

Meanwhile, he urged chiefs to offer land to investors in their chiefdoms to allow productivity in the province.

He has also asked the Royal Highnesses in the province to support and attend all the traditional ceremonies in the province.

“No matter your origin if its chibwela Mushi all the Chiefs are to attend for the sake of unity in central province,” he said.

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CREDITS

TEXT LAYOUT; MISHECK M. CHIPENZI

EDITING; MISHECK M. CHIPENZI, F

PHOTOGRAPHY; MARGARET MALILO

SOURCE; MARGARET MALILO 

WRITER; KACHABE HAMATTAN

ZAMBIA AND MALARIA; CAN THE TWO PART WAYS BY 2021?

Would you believe it if someone told you that malaria kills children under the age of five every 90 seconds in Zambia?

Well, the above is true just like it is also true that at least 90% of the population in Zambia is either infected or at risk of being infected by malaria.

When it comes to death, malaria is just as unforgiving as witnessed by over 250 000 deaths caused by malaria between 2016 and 2017 in Zambia.

The Ministry of Health has not been quiet about malaria either, as witnessed by a number of programmes initiated aimed at curbing one of Zambia’s most lethal diseases in the name of malaria.

International well wishers, donors and health related agencies have also stretched out a hand to offer help to Zambia through programmes such as the Malaria Control Programmes spearheaded by World Health Organisation (WHO).

Zambia was referred to as one of the most ambitious countries in the fight against malaria in Africa, which has further caught the attention of other international partners such as the Global  Fund to fight HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis (T.B) and Malaria, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S President’s Malaria initiative, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation among others.

Has there been success in the fight against malaria?

Of course, there has been a notable success in the fight against malaria since the beginning of the malaria control programme which started in 2011.

According to information obtained between 2010 and 2014 from Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Kennedy Malama, 1 out of 5 malaria victims

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Kennedy Malama speaking during the launch of the  anti-mosquito paint – Picture by Kachabe Hamattan

 experienced death  from the disease.

Dr. Malama said the percentage has reduced so significantly, with 1 person dying  from ten victims experienced between 2014 and 2018.

Dr Malama said that the target was however that of completely eradicating malaria in Zambia by 2021.

In as much as there has been some progress in the fight against malaria in the recent past, our target is that of putting malaria to bed, Dr. Malama said.

Suppose Zambia achieves this ambitious project, no doubt, it will be the first country to do so in Africa.

So what’s Next in the fight against malaria?

It seems next is now in the fight against malaria in Zambia, with the launch of Kansai anti mosquito coating paint expected to do justice to the Ministry of Health.

The paint, tried and tested in other countries such as India, Japan and Malaysia, is expected to leave a mark on the face of malaria infected country-Zambia.

Speaking during the official launch of the paint on 1st October, 2018, Kansai Paint President Mr. Hiroshi Ishimo said the company’s anti mosquito paint was the first of its kind and is expected to help tremendously in the fight against malaria.

“There wont be need to burn leaves to scare mosquitoes once your house is coated with anti mosquito paint, because there is no chance of mosquitoes,” Mr. Ishimo said.

Sample of anti mosquito paint to flood the health sector – Picture by Kachabe Hamattan

The Ministry of Health seems to have liked the innovation by Kansai Paints of introducing such a unique product.He further urged the Zambia population to make use of the this rare paint.

While speaking at the official launch of the paint, Minister of Local Government, standing in for the then out of country Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya said health was key to the development of the country and any move that is aimed at the attainment of better health facilities must be appreciated.

The Minister re-emphasized government’s commitment towards achieving a malaria free Zambia by 2021.

Whether the country can successfully achieve this goal by 2021 is a story for another day, for now, ‘Free Malaria Zambia 2021’ is the talk of the day.

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Credits

Source; Virginia Chilongo

Editor; Kutasha Mulenga

Text Layout; Misheck M. Chipenzi, Margaret Malilo

Photography; Kachabe Hamattan

Writer; Hannah Kaniini, Faith Hamayanda

Sources; Kennedy Malama (PS), Ministry of Health; Vincent Mwale (Minister), Ministry of Local Government and Housing and Hiroshi Ishimo (President), Kansai Paints.

 

KISSING; NO LONGER SAFE?

Lovers at the University of Zambia, Goma Lakes. – photo credit: Magaret Malilo

How safe is kissing now is probably a million dollar question.

With new discoveries indicating that the HIV virus can be contained in saliva pigments around one’s gums, the question above becomes even more difficult to answer.

The discovery has generally been accepted worldwide including Zambia and to that effect, HIV testing is no longer exclusively done by testing blood samples.

While addressing the media on 28^th July 2018, health minister, Dr Chitalu Chilufya,  acknowledged the fact that since HIV could be contained in Saliva pigments, then there was a chance it could be transmitted through saliva.

Chilufya was careful not to point out vividly that HIV could be transmitted through saliva, after all, there is no scientific justification to back that up.

New technologies have actually been discovered to help test HIV virus by testing saliva pigments and one of them is the new Self HIV Testing kit.

HIV self testing kit – photo credit: Kutasha Mulenga

So, does it mean kissing is now a health hazard?

Well, not so far according to the information available at the Ministry of Health and other global researchers such as World Health Organization (WHO).

Minister of Health Dr.  Chitalu Chilufya said, “In as much as it is true that the HIV virus lives in saliva pigments, we can’t rush to conclude that activities such as kissing would directly result into contracting the disease.”

Good news for young couples, not so? for now it seems, but what if  it is discovered later on  that the disease can actually be transmitted through kissing too? Well, we hope not.

Self HIV Testing, just how good is it?

The coming in of the new HIV testing kit was tipped to motivate many people to get tested.

Actually, the Ministry of Health recorded a 5% increment in the number of people who got tested in the first year it was implemented in 2016.

Hamattan Kachabe, a student at the University of Zambia, carrying out his self HIV test. – photo credit: Kutasha Mulenga

It was also argued that people would do it without having to worry about being stigmatized, they would have to do it in their home after all.

However, not everything is quite as good as earlier anticipated and surely there are a few concerns around it.

Talking to Hamattan Kachabe, a student at the University of Zambia, after carrying out his self HIV test spoke volumes. He complained over lack of counselors when one is still waiting for results.

“You see testing is sensitive and you need a counselor whilst you wait for results otherwise you can die of depression,” he said.

Hamatan added that in as much as the development must be appreciated, it leaves much more to be desired.

Well, his concerns are neither representative of what everyone thinks nor are they void, but one thing factual about it is that there is some sense in what the young student observed.

Saliva testing sums it all

Whether Dr. Chilufya agrees or not, there seems to be a potential danger in kissing, after all, he is an advocate of self-testing using saliva, one wonders how the same saliva can’t transmit the virus during kissing.

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Credits

Photographers; Kutasha Mulenga, Margaret Malilo

Writer; Kachabe Hamattan

Editing; Misheck M. Chipenzi

Text Layout; Virginia Chilongo, Faith Hamayanda

Source; Hannah Kaniini

Senkobo Village Embrace Solar Power

RESIDENTS of Senkobo Village in Chief Musokotwane’s Chiefdom of Kazungula district have taken the initiative of rural electrification in their own hands with solar power initiative.

Senkobo Village doesn’t have electricity despite being located only about 25 KM away from Livingstone town.

And haven’t they been a worried community because of lack of electricity? Well, they wouldn’t have come up with the idea of developing a power system of their own.

Last year around July, the residents decided to start a monthly contribution of k30 per month so that they would buy communal Solar power system.

The idea had the approval of the chief, who at the time said he would help his community fulfill their project.

Twelve months down the line, Senkobo village has achieved a milestone project, one that has neighboring villages admiring and probably jealous of too.

Speaking on Friday, 21^st September 2018 during the official presentation of the solar power system to the entire village, Chief Musokotwane couldn’t hide his happiness over the project.

” If I say that I am not proud of you people and headman of Senkobo then I will be deceiving my inner convictions,” he said.

Chief Musokotwane hoped that the project would not the last of its kind for the community but the beginning of many in his community.

“I hope it will not end on Solar power only, I hope my community continues to work hard without having to wait for someone to do something for them,” he said.

And if you think the Chief was the only person happy about the achievement then then you could be misled.

Villagers themselves were seen singing and admiring the solar system set on the western side of the rail line, 600 Mm away from Great South Road.

One Luckson Mutinta, a villager of Senkobo said the village had never seen a machine like that.

“We are told that the machine will help Milling maize and we will no longer have to send our phone to Livingstone for charging because it will do all that,” he said.

The Solar power initiative comes at a time when other Villages are benefiting from Rural Electrification Programme.

Speaking earlier own during the presentation of the solar energy to the community, the village headman of Senkobo Village Mr Gorge Chinyama called on his subjects to protect and keep a vigilant eye on the solar energy that the village had come up with.

Mr Chinyama said that was their money and that’s the more reason they had to protect it.

“Don’t be allowing your animals to be playing around here because we will disturb this project,” he said.

He further warned those who had tendencies of stealing community properties to be conscious and feel pity for those who contributed towards the realization of the project.

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton