Male Circumcision (Swaziland's Accelerated Initiative)

Swaziland is the first country in the world to support an accelerated, nation-wide male circumcision (MC) plan. The Accelerated Saturation Initiative is known in country as Soka Uncobe, translating to circumcise is to conquer. Beginning in 2010, the Ministry of Health began planning the program following approval from cabinet. The campaign was planned as a short, intense campaign with an end date of September 2011. With resources available, the campaign was extended through March 2012. Led by the Ministry of Health with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the campaign launched integrated circumcision programs in Swaziland. In 2011, services were scaled up during the intense efforts of the campaign. This was a strategic effort to increase awareness of circumcision in Swaziland and ensure that men who are interested in male circumcision were able to access information and the procedure.