Wanzams’ people who circumcise newly born baby boys for a fee in the Upper West Region are losing their business to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. According to them, majority of the people now prefer sending their newly born babies to hospitals and other health institutions for circumcision for fear of contracting AIDS.
“We are now jobless. The practice that used to be lucrative and a source of livelihood has lost its value because of the AIDS pandemic”. “People are scared because they are not sure of the safety of their children since we use only one or two instrument,” the wanzams complained.
The workshop brought together hairdresses, barbers and wanzams and was aimed at inculcating in them the need for sterilizing their implements and instruments to avert the spread of AIDS through their activities.
The project co-ordinating director of the CBO, Mrs Cristine Choka Seidu, said although most people were aware of the dangers of the HIV/AIDS menace and other related diseases, poverty and lack of parental care had contributed significantly to the slow pace of behavioural change by target groups.
Mrs Seidu urged the participants to take the workshop seriously and put into practice what they had learnt to help curb the spread of AIDS.
Humphrey Naabo, Wa District co-ordinating director, pledged the assembly’s continuous support for anti-AIDS and other health-related programmes. Williams Niyuni, Wa District Focal person on AIDS, urged NGOs and CBOs to use funds released to them for anti-AIDS campaign judiciously in order to achieve the desire impact on society to avert the spread of the AIDS menace.
