12/02/2026
Monze District circumcised 4,576 males in 2025 as part of efforts to reduce the transmission of HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV), a leading cause of cervical cancer in Zambia.
During an interview with ZANIS today, District Health Director Dr. Gocho Kapoba said the figure represents about 3.1 percent of the population and has pushed the district’s overall coverage to 36 percent as of December 2025.
Dr. Kapoba stressed that Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) programme remains a key public health intervention aimed at lowering new HIV infections and protecting women from HPV-related cervical cancer.
“There is an interplay between HIV and cervical cancer because the human papillomavirus is carried more in people who are not circumcised and also most people know that there is a reduced chance of someone acquiring HIV, if they are circumcised.” Dr. Kapoba noted.
He explained that medical evidence has shown that circumcised men have a reduced risk of acquiring HIV, thereby lowering the chances of transmitting the virus within the community.
He added that HPV, which is linked to cervical cancer, is more easily transmitted through uncircumcised males.
Dr.Kapoba revealed that women who are HIV positive face a higher and faster risk of developing cervical cancer when exposed repeatedly to HPV.
He disclosed that the ministry currently has 13 health facilities in Monze District offering VMMC services including Monze Urban, Manungu, Hamapande, Katimba, Chipembere, Bwantu and Bombo, among others.
Dr. Kapoba described the uptake of the service as encouraging but also acknowledged that myths and misconceptions, particularly those rooted in traditional and religious beliefs, continue to affect acceptance levels in some sections of the community.
“Our aim as a ministry is to strengthen service delivery, the district has continued training health workers to ensure that each facility has at least one trained provider capable of conducting the procedure safely.” Dr. Kapoba said.
Dr. Kapoba indicated that the district is working towards integrating VMMC into the routine primary health care package instead of relying mainly on periodic campaigns and outreach programmes.
