IN CONVERSATION WITH STEVE MABONA,Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson

As the winter circumcision season gets underway, the Gauteng Department of Health is encouraging parents, guardians and eligible males to make use of free Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision services available at public healthcare facilities across the province. VMMC is a safe surgical procedure performed by trained healthcare professionals in accredited health facilities. The procedure forms part of South Africa’s comprehensive HIV prevention strategy and contributes to improved health outcomes for boys and men. Research has shown that VMMC can reduce the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60%. Additional health benefits include improved penile hygiene and a reduced risk of certain sexually transmitted infections, including Human Papillomavirus, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2), and syphilis, as well as a lower 10:35 risk of penile cancer. The winter season traditionally sees increased demand for circumcision services as many families use the school holidays to access the procedure. Health authorities are therefore urging parents and guardians to ensure that boys undergo circumcision in safe medical environments where they can receive proper clinical care 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: Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Sedibeng and the West Rand. To access the service, boys under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and provide the required consent documentation. Men seeking the procedure are required to present a certified copy of their identity document or birth certificate. While VMMC offers significant protection against HIV and other infections, health officials stress that it does not provide complete protection. Individuals are encouraged to continue practising safer sexual behaviours, including consistent and correct condom use, regular HIV testing and counselling, and adherence to other HIV prevention interventions. Instagram · Twitter