Circumcision is an important tradition in many communities, but it must be done safely and with respect for children’s rights.
Recently, just before the circumcision season 2024, we partnered with the Uasin Gishu County Government and the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) to discuss how to make circumcision safer and better for young boys, achieving zero deaths during circumcision.
Among the key activities of the partnership was to provide targeted training and sensitization for key stakeholders, focusing on essential areas such as safe circumcision practices, HIV prevention, and the concept of ‘circumcision of the mind’—a holistic approach emphasizing mental and moral values training for initiates. This collaborative effort seeks to align traditional practices with modern health and ethical standards, promoting a safer and more responsible approach to circumcision within the communities in the county. The ultimate goal is twofold: i) to ensure that no child would die of cultural circumcision; ii) to ensure that the sexual and reproductive health of those circumcised is promoted; and iii) to train on moral values for holistic health and wellbeing into responsible adulthood.
Why This Partnership?
Through this partnership, ACIP aims to:
✅ Promote Safe Circumcision: For 20 years, ACIP has attained zero deaths. Therefore, this partnership was/is to make sure boys go through safe medical procedures.
✅ Educate Communities: Teaching the community about the health and legal aspects of circumcision. Impart on the “circumcision of the mind,” emphasizing a value-based cut.
What We Attained
On the 18th of October, 2024, at RCEA Ushirika Center, we had the circumcisers training session. The circumcisers were trained on safe circumcision practices. ACIP stepped in with the module on values and trained on “circumcision of the mind.” This dives deeper into the values and morals that are borrowed from the cultural teachings. Training of circumcisers was followed by a series of sensitization activities conducted from October 23 to October 25, 2024, across several sub-counties in Uasin Gishu County, including Soy, Moiben, Turbo, Kapseret, Kesses, and Ainabkoi. This engagement took place from the 23rd of October to the 25th of October, covering two sub-counties per day. On Wednesday, 23rd, the team covered Turbo (CDF office Juakali) and Kapsaret (sub-county offices boardroom) sub-counties. Thursday 24th, Soy (Ziwa Sub-County Hospital boardroom) and Moibe (Moiben sub-county offices), and lastly Friday 25th, October 2024, Ainabkoi (Naiberi Ward office) and Kesses (cheptiret dispensary). The meetings were attended by the NGAO, who are the chiefs, sub-chiefs, county administrators, county and sub-county commissioners, and the County Health Workers (CHWs). The themes for the sensitization were Safe Circumcision, HIV Prevention, and Circumcision of the Mind.