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The SA Medical Association Trade Union has called for zero deaths and no morbidity during this traditional circumcision season.
The union says it is willing to work with traditional leaders in finding a solution to the problem.
It says last year, 30 young men in the Eastern Cape and 50 in Mpumalanga, died as result of complications associated with botched circumcisions.
SAMA Trade Union president, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, says they're calling on all male doctors who completed the traditional ceremony to make themselves available to help save these young lives. Every traditional circumcision school should have a male doctor on hand. At the very least a male nurse should be present to provide life saving support
Ramathuba says an estimated 30 000 young men undergo this ritual annually.
A research study conducted by Kepe between 1995 and 2005 discovered that 5 813 initiates in the Eastern Cape were admitted to hospitals due to complications arising from circumcision procedures. A further 281 lost their manhood and 342 died.
