Soka Uncobe: Difference between revisions

}}</ref> with HIV prevention as the pretext.

}}</ref> and the country with the highest HIV prevalence in the world. Swaziland has a very low prevalence of male circumcision,<ref>{{REFnews

}}</ref> and this is has been indicated as one of the "driving factors" behind the high prevalence of HIV,<ref>{{REFnews

}}</ref> although other studies have shown that HIV transmission was more prevalent in the circumcised population than it was in the intact population.<ref>{{REFnews

}}</ref> Since then, U.S. government personnel have worked to align PEPFAR resources in support of the national plan. The Government of Swaziland asked PEPFAR to support the national male circumcision plan as one of the "five pillars" of the Swaziland - United States PEPFAR Partnership Framework on HIV/AIDS.<ref>{{REFnews

In March 22, 2011, the U.S. government officially handed over a wide range of materials in support of the USDF’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, which included 7 prefabricated medical facilities supporting the Soka Uncobe male circumcision campaign. In all, the materials handed over at the ceremony and those that will be arriving in the future are valued at over E 12.5 million. Representing the United States Government were Charge d’Affaires Craig Cloud, joined by Dr. Anne Thomas of the U.S. Department of the Defense, and in a speech given by Cloud, it was noted that "if the Soka Uncobe campaign is successful in circumcising 152,000 men during 2011, it could prevent 88,000 people from getting infected with HIV and save the government and the people of Swaziland E 4.5 billion in medical treatment costs."<ref>{{REFnews

}}</ref> Advertisements promoting the campaign display four women, sending confusing messages, one being that once one was circumcised, they would be able to "conquer" more women. Regarding the logo and the slogan "Soka Uncobe" itself, some have gotten the message that “one has conquered” and would not get HIV and AIDS. The greatest concern is that the message is promoting multiple concurrent partnerships.<ref>{{REFnews

}}</ref> According to Mndzebele, "When you tell people about condoms they would just tell you that they would circumcise and by then they would have conquered HIV AIDS."