Botched Circumcisions Kill 31 Teen Boys In South Africa

Thirty-one teenage boys have died from complications after botched traditional circumcision rites in South Africa's rural Eastern Cape region, officials said on Friday.

"Since the beginning of June, two deaths are being recorded almost every day," regional health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo told AFP.

Circumcision
The prepuce or the foreskin, which covers the tip of the penis, is removed during a circumcision. The procedure does not exceed ten minutes and is done under the effect of a local anesthetic.

"This is a grim situation that we deal with every year, the health department has rescued hundreds of boys from schools run by unscrupulous surgeons," he said.

Health authorities say the main causes of death which have been concentrated in the rural Transkei area are dehydration, hypothermia and excessive bleeding and that most boys only seek medical attention when it is too late.

Traditional circumcision is a rite of passage practised by the region's Xhosa clan, where boys from the age of 18 are banished to the bush for about a month and taught social values.

Urology Paediatric Emergencies
The testis can go for a twist inside the sac it is held. This results in loss of blood supply. If left untreated for more than 6 hours the testis loses function.

The bi-annual event culminates in a circumcision ritual which is performed without any anaesthetic, using traditional surgical tools.

Kupelo said the number of deaths had been slowly declining over the past five years since the health authorities started clamping down on illegal schools.

Circumcision - Phimosis
Simple steps depicting surgical removal of foreskin.

"Boys are still dying, some seasons we experience a surge, sometimes the numbers are lower," Kupelo said.

The 2008 winter season saw 24 deaths with some 535 initiates being admitted to hospitals with injuries and suffering from hypothermia.

"This tradition is meant to be like a graduation ceremony from boyhood to manhood, but illegal schools are admitting boys as young as 13 years," said Kupelo.

Deaths continue to plague this age-old tradition despite the passing of a Circumcision Act in 2001 which is aimed at regulating the practice.

Last month, a boy was admitted to hospital with a nearly severed rotting penis, after being cut by an untrained traditional surgeon.

Source-AFP
SRM