Teenagers, holidays and circumcision. It’s a strange combination for the festive season but Njabulo Clinic, a free circumcision clinic based on Amcare’s property in Alberton, is appealing to the youth to consider their holiday as the perfect opportunity to get circumcised.
“Circumcision reduces the chance of getting HIV by 60%, so I tell the youth, 60% is circumcision, the other 40% is your responsibility,” says Nathi Motsatsi, an Amcare volunteer. Walking door to door in Dukathole near Germiston, the volunteers approach mostly youths and mothers explaining the advantages of circumcision to them and getting the names of those willing to take up the offer of free circumcision.
At the age of 24, Nathi admits that he was a Skhotane (a slang term used to describe a hustler who lives a lavish lifestyle without having a job) before he started as an advocate for circumcision. Nathi now wants to help men discover who they are: “Sometimes it’s very depressing to see an old grandmother taking care of 19-year-olds who waste money and don’t take responsibility for their lives. I want to help men discover the real African man again so they don’t waste their lives and their money.”
By walking the streets of poorer communities, passionate individuals like Nathi are making a difference and helping the Government to curb the HIV epidemic. “We see now that the HIV rate in men 34-years and below is much lower than men over-35,” says Nathi as we pass a gaming hall full of young people.
Through the good work of individuals like Nathi, Amcare has performed thousands of free circumcisions, saving many lives. To assist Amcare to make more of a difference, Different.org has partnered with Amcare to help them fundraise for the addition of a ward to their clinic, which will enable them to perform more circumcision operations. To see the impact the project will make, have a look at the project page here.
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