Gauteng Health encourages men and boys to access free medical circumcision services

The Gauteng Department of Health has urged parents, guardians, and eligible males to make use of free medical circumcision services available at public healthcare facilities across the province as the winter circumcision season gets underway.

The department said Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) is a safe surgical procedure performed by trained healthcare professionals at accredited health facilities.

The programme forms part of South Africa’s broader HIV prevention strategy and contributes to improved health outcomes for boys and men.

Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Steve Mabona said medical circumcision has been proven to reduce the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60%.

Mabona added that the procedure offers several additional health benefits, including improved penile hygiene and a reduced risk of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2), and syphilis. It is also associated with a lower risk of penile cancer.

The department noted that demand for circumcision services typically increases during the winter months, as many families use the school holiday period to access the procedure in a safer medical environment.

Parents and guardians have been encouraged to ensure that circumcisions are performed only at accredited healthcare facilities where proper clinical care is provided before, during, and after the procedure.

Free VMMC services are available to boys and men aged 10 years and older at public health facilities across Gauteng’s five districts, namely Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Sedibeng, and the West Rand.

To access the service, boys under the age of 18 are required to provide a certified copy of a parent or legal guardian’s identity document and obtain signed informed consent from the parent or guardian. Men are required to submit a certified copy of their identity document or birth certificate.

The department emphasised that while medical circumcision significantly reduces the risk of HIV infection and other health complications, it does not provide complete protection.

Health authorities continue to encourage safer sexual practices, including the consistent and correct use of condoms, regular HIV testing and counselling, and adherence to other HIV prevention measures.