2,000 BOYS TO BENEFIT FROM FREE CIRCUMCISION

GERONA, Tarlac--Around 2,000 6-to-12-year-old boys
benefited from the free circumcision project of the municipal government
in April and May this year.

Dubbed "Project Summer Cut," the annual project was jointly sponsored
by Mayor Dennis Norman Tañedo Go, the municipal health office and
barangay officials.

"We want as many children as possible to benefit from this free
circumcision project. That is why we have decided to extend it to the
barangay level," Go said

The project, which ran from April 2 to May 30, kicked off at
Barangay Santiago.

The project hoped to cover Gerona's 44 barangays.

According to Dr. Abner Lagade, municipal health officer, "circumcision
is a form of male hygiene and a worthwhile public health measure
accepted in the country."

He said that since May 14, 400 operations in 12 barangays have been
performed. He expressed optimism that the municipal government will
exceed the target of 700 boys for circumcision.

He said the boys were given free medicines and parents were informed of
proper sanitary and hygienic procedures to reduce the risk of
infection.