Safe Male Circumcision Communication Campaign in Uganda: “Stand Proud – Get Circumcised”

In September 2010, the Government of Uganda launched an initiative to provide safe male circumcision (SMC) as an essential health service. The initiative seeks to increase the number of circumcised men by educating the population about safe male circumcision, increasing the number of health facilities that provide circumcision services and equipping health providers with the necessary skills to conduct the procedure.

The Health Communication Partnership (HCP), with funding from USAID, is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health to disseminate the SMC Policy and Communication Strategy and develop a mass communication campaign to increase uptake of SMC services among men 15 – 49 years old. In December 2011, the Safe Male Circumcision multi-channel communication campaign was launched with the following objectives:

• To create awareness and provide necessary information on safe male circumcision services.
• To help people make informed decisions about safe male circumcision and HIV prevention.
• To increase demand and promote uptake of SMC in Uganda.