Unbowed respect for tradition saves countless initiates lives

Abstract

A protracted and lonely campaign for safe male circumcision in the traditional, male-dominated rural Eastern Cape is finally saving multiple lives -- its chief protagonist a medical doctor and mother of 10 who is now Port Elizabeth’s Municipal Health Chief.

Dr Elizabeth-Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni, 64, is a one-woman phenomenon. She graduated top of her medical school class, gave birth to the last 2 of her 10 offspring while studying, pioneered institutionalised safe circumcision training among local traditional surgeons and created the Emmanuel Haven, a 175-person HIV/AIDS day care facility and crèche in Motherwell.