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Published: Thursday, 17 March 2016 07:04

I laughed so hard when I watched this youtube video on FB last week. It was designed by TBWA/HUNT/LASCARIS Johannesburg advertising agency for Nando's chicken brand for Kosher patrons.

It was first aired in 1999 and has certainly stood the test of time. It is relevant 18 years later. Although all of Nando's ads are controversial and often makes us feel a little uncomfortable, that is clearly their intention. They have successfully lampooned many a politician, celebrity or stereotype to push the boundary of conventional advertising. Their ads are often quirky and unique and often make us think...

I am posting this Kosher ad on my blog as voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is a very big part of curbing HIV and is now an accepted method of protection in reducing female-to-male transmission sexually. Research in clinical trials based in Kenya, Uganda and Orange Farm, Johannesburg found that male circumcision reduced the risk of transmitting HIV by 60 percent. As a result of these trials, WHO and UNAIDS have strongly recommended VMMC for men between the ages of 12-17 years. This does not mean FEMALE GENITAL MUTATION (FGM), which is illegal throughout the world. This illegal practice, that still takes place in some countries does not protect anyone against HIV and the reality is that it increases a woman's risk of getting HIV.

Circumcision is practised by many religious groups for centuries. In Jewish culture, the procedure is done on the 8th day of a boy's life and is an ancient tradition according to Judaic custom.

Circumcision is one of the central covenants of the Jewish faith - the sign of Abraham's pact with God that established the Hebrew nation. Four thousand years later, the procedure remains as one of the oldest rituals known to mankind. Many doctors around the world recommend circumcision in newborns, however, any man can be circumcised at any age. The Nando's ad obviously uses the hot chilli as a metaphor for this cultural ritual. The music starts of as a rendition from an old jewish piece that is serious to a boisterous song sung in celebrations like marriage.

In South Africa, we have ethnic groups who practice circumcision and other groups who do not. Here these groups perform circumcision as part of a rite of passage - an initiation from childhood into adulthood.

Medical intervention is now recommended and there is a drive away from these initiation processes whereby poorly performed male circumcision has lead to bleeding, infections and death.

Our largest ethnic group, the Zulus have generally not practiced this initiation process since the early 19th century where it was abandoned due to warfare. This group and many others in countries such as Botswana and the Luo in Kenya are advocating the use of VMMC to reduce HiV AND STI transmission. King Goodwill Zwelithini and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are two of many leaders who are pushing for VMMC and they have endorsed and encourage their young men to go for VMMC.

WHO has called for 80 per cent coverage of circumcision by the end of this year. It has been projected that if this happens, one in 5 infections can be avoided. Currently in Orange Farm at the Bophelo Pele Centre, VMMC is still running very successfully. Men are counselled and when consent is given, they will be circumcised by a qualified person who will operate in a sterile hospital/clinic environment. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, and as there are stitches which dissolve, the boys need not return unless there are complications.

It is recommend that if a man is sexually active, after the circumcision, he abstains from sex for 6 weeks.

There is now conclusive evidence that circumcision also helps reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Cells found in the foreskin are easy receptors to HIV. When the foreskin is removed and the penis is now

circumcised these cells are removed as well. The foreskin can hide STIs like ulcers, and other STIs like Herpes Simplex and the Human Papilloma Virus are also reduced with circumcision.  

One last important point, circumcision can not be viewed as being 100 percent effective and should be seen instead as another weapon in the fight against HiV transmission. Circumcision must be viewed as a part of a comprehensive preventive strategy, not the only component in our fight against HiV; condoms must still be used as a complimentary tool.

VMMC IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE ABOUT..