Did you know that?: On Circumcision
One activity that is a common practice during the summer is free circumcision. Millions of Filipinos take advantage of this annual event because recipients earn lots of savings from it. What with the cost of medical procedures nowadays, topped with oral medications to take after the procedure.
But the question that should be playing in the minds of parents is whether this procedure, free at that, is safe to the boys receiving them. Being in a place (usually in a basketball court, baranggay hall, or any spacious open area) which is far from being sanitized, this boys line up hoping to be finished as soon as possible. There is literally no room for the medical apparatus from being fully sterilized. And this causes the transmission of various blood-transmissible diseases, one of them, and perhaps the most common, is hepatitis.
I have actually came across two siblings who have been diagnosed to have Hepatitis B after a routine medical physical examination in the Nursing course. They have not undergone any blood transfusion, or any medical procedure that would lead to acquisition of the disease, except for circumcision done during a medical mission in their place. It was a shocking experience for the siblings and for their parents as well.
The brothers blamed their father for it, for initiating the idea of undergoing the procedure just because it is free. But the condition is already there. The best thing to do is to prevent others from going through the same thing. As the doctors do their best to maintain sanitation in a poorly sanitized environment, people at the receiving end should be knowledgeable.
Tags: circumcision, hepatitis, medical mission
April 4th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Why are we still cutting parts off children’s genitals? Even without the risk of acquiring hepatitis, it’s a terrible idea.
Fortunately, this practice is dying out in many other countries:
drops in male circumcision:
USA: from 90% to 57%
Canada: from 47% to 9.2%
UK: from 35% to about 5% (less than 1% among non-Muslims)
Australia: 90% to 12.6% (“routine” circumcision has recently been *banned* in public hospitals in all states except one, so the rate will now be a lot lower)
New Zealand: 95% to below 3% (mostly Samoans and Tongans)
South America and Europe: never above 5%
April 4th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Yes, I know Mark. There is actually no clinical significance. In fact, I myself have two boys who I plan not to circumcise. But it has been a practice in the Philippines and people ask for it (me and my husband don’t perform the procedure though). It is commonly done during medical missions initiated by politicians during the campaign period. Some boys also ask for it because they are being teased by friends if they are not circumcised.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:25 am
There is a support group for Pilippine men who are supót (not circumcised) at http://uncircumcisedfilipinos.blogspot.com/.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
I’ve seen it. Nice site, Hugh7.
April 9th, 2009 at 2:35 am
I agree with comments, but for those who continue to choose to do it, I am really concerned over the transmission of diseases such as Hep B.
Those kids should have been vaccinated with Hep B at birth, 1 and 6 months. Who’s to blame for that?
April 15th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Hepatitis B vaccination is being given routinely at RHUs (Rural Health Units) here in the Philippines. It is included in the routine immunization for children. It is also readily available in private clinics and hospitals for patients who can afford them. It is just that not everyone believe that immunization is important.