Hundreds of young Eastern Cape men, who lost their manhood because of botched traditional circumcision, will from next year be able to get penile reconstruction and rehabilitation from the Mthatha-based Nelson Mandela Central Hospital.
This was revealed by the director of Medical Male Circumcision, Collen Bonnecwe, when the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Committees (CRL) tabled its report on traditional male circumcision in Cape Town on Tuesday.
This is a welcome development as currently penile reconstruction and rehabilitation are done in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
According to statistics, at least 233 penile amputations were reported in the Eastern Cape between 2006 and 2014. Health authorities said the programme was still in the “embryo” stage.
Dr Mbuyiselo Madiba of Nelson Mandela Central Hospital’s urology unit said he had already met with some of the team of specialists which will include surgeons, urologists, clinical physiologists and nurses.
“Some of the patients have total loss of their penis, some partial. Now there is a plan or programme of trying to do some reconstruction, which is being initiated together with the national office as well with the Nelson Mandela Central Hospital.
Madiba said there were hundreds of such cases and while the penile reconstruction and rehabilitation process is still in its early stages, they hope to start by next year.
“The success of this programme will be dependent on compliance, on faith and on the approach by the medical team. So at this stage I can rightly say we are in the process of doing that.”
Madiba said once successfully done, the patients would enjoy a normal sex life.
“We are not going to use artificial, but live tissues. There will be micro-surgery that will be done. Depending how much have been left in the shaft of the penis, a person can get erection, engage in sexual activities and impregnated his female partner.
“Now they will urinate like any other man and make love like any other man. That will be the success story for our people,” said Madiba.
He said one operation can last about eight hours and depending on the severity of the damage and can cost up to about R100000.
Madiba said that if everything goes according to plan, they will do one of two cases before the end of the year.
“Although this looks expensive and there are hundreds of victims, it is the responsibility of the government that something like this be done whether we like it or not, otherwise we will end up with people who are physiologically affected.”
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa said during this year’s winter season alone, there were 10 cases of penile amputations in the province.
CRL chairwoman Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said medical and psycho-social support need to be provided in the case of penile amputation and initiate deaths. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Penile reconstruction for young initiates on drawing board at Mthatha hospital
This was revealed by the director of Medical Male Circumcision, Collen Bonnecwe, when the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Committees (CRL) tabled its report on traditional male circumcision in Cape Town on Tuesday.
This is a welcome development as currently penile reconstruction and rehabilitation are done in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
According to statistics, at least 233 penile amputations were reported in the Eastern Cape between 2006 and 2014. Health authorities said the programme was still in the “embryo” stage.
Dr Mbuyiselo Madiba of Nelson Mandela Central Hospital’s urology unit said he had already met with some of the team of specialists which will include surgeons, urologists, clinical physiologists and nurses.
“Some of the patients have total loss of their penis, some partial. Now there is a plan or programme of trying to do some reconstruction, which is being initiated together with the national office as well with the Nelson Mandela Central Hospital.
Madiba said there were hundreds of such cases and while the penile reconstruction and rehabilitation process is still in its early stages, they hope to start by next year.
“The success of this programme will be dependent on compliance, on faith and on the approach by the medical team. So at this stage I can rightly say we are in the process of doing that.”
Madiba said once successfully done, the patients would enjoy a normal sex life.
“We are not going to use artificial, but live tissues. There will be micro-surgery that will be done. Depending how much have been left in the shaft of the penis, a person can get erection, engage in sexual activities and impregnated his female partner.
“Now they will urinate like any other man and make love like any other man. That will be the success story for our people,” said Madiba.
He said one operation can last about eight hours and depending on the severity of the damage and can cost up to about R100000.
Madiba said that if everything goes according to plan, they will do one of two cases before the end of the year.
“Although this looks expensive and there are hundreds of victims, it is the responsibility of the government that something like this be done whether we like it or not, otherwise we will end up with people who are physiologically affected.”
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa said during this year’s winter season alone, there were 10 cases of penile amputations in the province.
CRL chairwoman Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said medical and psycho-social support need to be provided in the case of penile amputation and initiate deaths. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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