NANDI – In a collaborative effort to safeguard the well-being of young men during male circumcision rites, medical experts, civil society organizations, and the Nandi County Council of Elders (Kaburwo) are emphasizing the need for professional oversight. This initiative seeks to ensure that such rites are conducted safely and under the supervision of qualified personnel, addressing concerns over the involvement of untrained individuals.

According to Kenya News Agency, the Nandi County Director of Medical Services, and representatives from the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, there have been worrying instances of circumcision procedures being performed by individuals lacking the necessary qualifications. The partnership aims to integrate community doctors into the initiation process to mitigate risks and ensure the health and safety of participants. Dr. Bungei underscored the importance of mentoring young men to become productive and successful members of their communities.

Mr. Kimutai Choge, Director of the Ambassadors of the Boy Child Campaign, highlighted the primary goal of their meeting was to focus on the health and well-being of boys before, during, and after circumcision. He praised the Nandi County Government for deploying qualified doctors to these rites and acknowledged the Kaburwo elders for their role in raising culturally and morally upright men.

The discussion also touched on the challenges of balancing cultural practices with modernity, as voiced by Mr. Ezekiel Lelei, a participant. He emphasized the need for strategies that bring together the boy child and fathers, aiming to teach young men about responsibility in the context of the 21st-century society where disparities in the progress between genders have become apparent.

Benjamin Kitur, Chairman of the Kaburwo Elders, called for collective efforts to maintain health standards during initiation rites to prevent fatalities. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the environments where these rites take place are clean, secure, and conducive to the health and safety of the boys. The move comes in response to past incidents where the lack of hygiene and proper care resulted in adverse outcomes for participants.

This initiative represents a significant step towards harmonizing traditional practices with modern health standards, ensuring that rites of passage such as circumcision are conducted in a manner that safeguards the well-being of young men in Nandi County.