02 May 2010 Quarterly provincial newsletter on the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Programme

Community participation Male circumcision in a critical in public health comprehensive HIV prevention Partners in VMMC for HIV programmes...... 2 package...... 3 prevention...... 3 News briefs...... 4

Community Participation Propels Project

Peter Osano, who is deaf, suggested that nurses and doctors be trained in the use of sign language to enable deaf people to receive satisfactory VMMC services.

Osano said he was pleased at the inclusion of deaf people and others who have not been able to participate fully in HIV prevention efforts. “Deaf people are also affected by the HIV virus,” he said through an interpreter. “I am happy to be part of this meeting today. This shows that our role in the fight against the spread of the virus is being realised.”

Some speakers emphasised that the VMMC programme does not benefit men only, but also women. The programme offers counselling and other HIV prevention services to the female partners of its male clients. And women Boniface Oduor, a boda boda operator from Lumumba estate in , asks a question play a vital role in male circumcision for at a sensitisation meeting on voluntary medical male circumcision and prevention of HIV prevention, from encouragement, mother-to-child transmission of HIV. to post-circumcision support and sexual abstinence during healing, to a couple’s he important role that the these groups, noting that community mutual commitment to safe sex after community has played in voluntary participation produces tangible results. All circumcision. Tmedical male circumcision (VMMC) of the groups represented at the meeting for HIV prevention—and the need for helped make it possible for the programme Beatrice Akinyi, a women’s group even greater involvement as the VMMC to reach more than 90,000 men in Nyanza representative, described how she had programme enters its second year of with VMMC services by the end of 2009. encouraged her husband to seek male implementation in — circumcision services and had supported were recurring themes during a recent Most notably, communities helped the him after the operation. “I ensured that stakeholders’ meeting in Kisumu. Rapid Results Initiative exceed expecta- my husband ate well during the healing tions. Provincial health officials and their period,” she said. “We also abstained The 22 March meeting was the third partners launched the initiative on 9 from sex until he healed completely.” major stakeholder’s forum organised by December 2009, hoping to reach 30,000 the Nyanza Provincial Task Force on Male men. Over the next 30 days, some 35,000 Prior to the launch of the VMMC Circumcision. It was held at the Tom men sought and received VMMC services. programme, two major stakeholders’ Mboya Labour College Hall to update meetings brought together leaders of community members on the progress of “Community participation is an indispen- the Luo community, who endorsed the the VMMC programme since its launch in sable resource in achieving desired health programme for HIV prevention in the November 2008. outcomes and overall development,” Dr. community. Prime Minister Hon. Raila Kioko said. Odinga presided over the second meeting About 100 community members on 22 September 2008. participated in the meeting, including Community voices youth, women, elders, religious leaders, Soon after the launch of the programme, representatives of community groups, and the government created both the journalists. Several members of the community also spoke at the meeting, recounting their national and provincial task forces, composed of government officials and Dr. Jackson Kioko, provincial director experiences with VMMC services and making recommendations to help the development partners who coordinate of public health and sanitation, VMMC activities. acknowledged the contributions of progr