Male MPs should get circumcised

In an effort to reduce the HIV infection rate in Tanzania, a female MP in the country has proposed that all male MPs should get circumcised.

But her call has divided the House.

Tanzania has a high rate of HIV infections.

It is 13th on the list of countries with high infection rates in the world.

At least 5% of Tanzanian men are infected, according to figures from 2016.

Now the country hopes politicians will come up with ways in which to reduce infection rates.

MP Jackline Ngonyani has called on all the male MPs to get circumcised in an effort to fight and reduce infections, hoping the move will encourage male citizens to do the same.

Ngonyani said any member of the Parliament found to be not circumcised should go through the process.

MP Joseph Selasini agreed with Ngonyani but MP Joseph Kasheku opposed it, saying that it would invade one’s privacy and be impolite.

Medical practitioners have not stated exactly how circumcision reduces the infection rate.

But the World Health Organisation says circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexual men contracting HIV by around 60% – backing up the claim Ngonyani is making.

About 70% of Tanzanian men have been circumcised.

In 2008 the politicians of Kenya also went through the procedure to persuade men to undergo it