All those who came smiling went back smiling, the manager at the centre said.
Arua AIDS Information Centre has run short of logistical supplies following a huge turnout of men for Safe Male Circumcision (SMC).
Henry Lulu, the centre’s manager on Tuesday said that over 200 clients who had turned up for the service by Monday had to be put on the waiting list.
“Demand is so high that it has outstripped supply. The centre has apparently run out of logistical supplies like anaesthics and essential drugs for the exercise,” Lulu said.
“As of now we are waiting for more supplies to meet the high demand.”
The medical official noted that the circumcision exercise at the centre started late last month, and over 55 HIV-negative clients were circumcised within two weeks.
For the past one week, the centre has been receiving more clients who had to be referred to the registry to be recorded on the waiting list.
Lulu said: “What is impressive and unique about the turn up in Arua is that female spouses have been known to be actively involved in the exercise.”
At one moment, a lady accompanied her husband and we worked on her husband on whom the operation went on till midnight.
He described the exercise as a success since none of the clients has developed any complications.
“All those who came smiling went back smiling. Being a free service, many clients have had a hand in the big turn up by going a step further to mobilizing and convincing their peers,” Lulu observed.
The SMC, according to Lulu, is not a mere process of male circumcision, but is an integral part of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention strategy.
Basing on studies carried out in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, among others, circumcision reduces HIV/AIDS by 60%. The information is contained in a 2010 health policy document commissioned by the health ministry in conjunction with WHO and UNAIDS.
By Richard Adrama, The New Vision
