US Ambassador launches Ts’epo VMMC project at Scott hospital_Informative Newspaper7 April 2015_

Name of article: US Ambassador launches Ts’epo VMMC project at Scott hospital

Name of Publication: Informative Newspaper

Date: 7 April 2015

Country: Lesotho

Theme: HIV and AIDS

Genre: News

GEM classification: Gender-blind

Skill: Language

Description: This is a story about the launch of a Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) project by the Lesotho United States of America (US) Ambassador at one of the local hospitals.

Analysis:

The story highlights the following:

• Need for HIV and AIDS programmes; US monetary support to help Lesotho combat HIV and AIDS.
• Launch of Ts’epo Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) project for Morija Scott Hospital in Lesotho as a strategy for HIV prevention.

Although this article is based on HIV and AIDS an important topic in social discourse, it is a classical case study of stories that are point-blank gender blind because of an evident lack of balance in sources and limitation in facilitating gender perspective to discussions. Reporting on the launch of Ts’epo Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) project at Morija Scotts Hospital, the reporter included quotes from the speech made by the US Ambassador and the Minister of Health respectively. Being the only two male sources and expects in this sector, quotes from their speech without additional opinion by beneficiaries for an example, might offer one general perspective on the effects of VMMC project in combating HIV and AIDS.

Referred to as one of key tools for cost-effective HIV prevention, VMMC US supported programme in Lesotho is said to have been implemented through the Ministry of Health for some time now. With reports that a man who is circumcised is 60% less likely to acquire HIV, the article would have been just if it took into account the views of medically circumcised males as well as potential candidates for this programme. In doing so, the men would have expressed their opinion on how they view the VMMC programme, the effectiveness or lack of for this medical circumcision process in their reproductive health life and how they link the procedure to condom use etc.

To ensure diversity and overall gender perspective on the subject, opinion by females could have been included too so that an idea on how women felt about male circumcision and how it affects their family reproductive life could be established. In addition, interviewing health professionals would assist in determining the challenges encountered in administering the VMMC programme thus reducing a gap in gender portrayal and representation of males and females on HIV and AIDS matters.