Medical male circumcision a gateway

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services help men access healthcare earlier and link them to treatment when health problems are identified, according to an article published by Bhekisisa. The article describes one man’s experience with VMMC services in South Africa, where research has shown that men rarely visit clinics for regular check-ups. Before getting circumcised, all VMMC clients are screened for various diseases and undergo a full physical examination, enabling them to be treated for health conditions that might otherwise have gone undiagnosed. VMMC clients are also encouraged to get tested for HIV. In 2015, 85 percent of men circumcised at sites supported by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief were tested, with 2.3 percent testing HIV positive. VMMC clients who test HIV positive are referred to specialised facilities to receive treatment and care (Bhekisisa, 30 November 2016).