Circular 3/2024 – Performance of Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) by Nurses

TO:         NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

                NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

                ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SUBJECT: PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL MALE CIRCUMCISION (MMC) BY NURSES

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1. PURPOSE

• The purpose of this Circular is to provide a directive to the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and all relevant stakeholders on the performance of MMC by Nurse Practitioners.

2. BACKGROUND

• The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is a statutory body functioning in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005) to set and maintain the standards of nursing practice including upholding professional and ethical standards within nursing in South Africa.
• The mandate of SANC is to serve and protect the public in matters involving health services generally and nursing services in particular.
• Furthermore, the SANC has an obligation to liaise and communicate with stakeholders on matters pertaining to the profession.
• In line with its obligations above, Council has been inundated with inquiries, from stakeholders, seeking clarity pertaining to performance of medical male circumcision, a great initiative adopted by the National Department of Health to further strengthen its strides in reducing the plight of HIV and AIDS infection in South Africa, which Council fully supports.

3. COUNCIL RESOLUTION

• The Council at its ordinary meeting of 25-26 January 2024, deliberated on the matter and resolved that a circular that outlines Council directives on MMC be issued as follows:
  • Only Professional Nurses are allowed to conduct MMC.
  • They must have been trained, mentored, assessed and deemed competent (evidence of their competence should be produced) before they are allowed to conduct the male circumcision.
  • They should have had the opportunity to observe 10 cases being performed.
  • The products of the MMC must be handled in line with other related legislation and internal protocols, including the Human tissue Act (Act No. 65 of 1983).
  • NDoH shall have a system of continuous monitoring MMC implementation.
  • The SANC reserves the right to audit the departmental records on the MMC programme that involves nurse practitioners.
  • Nurse Practitioners who fail to comply with this directive will be liable for acting beyond their scope of practice.

4. IMPLEMENTATION

• This circular shall become effective on the date of issue. For any clarity-seeking questions in respect of this circular, you are advised to contact Dr NJ Muswede, Senior Manager: Professional Practice on Tel: (012) 420 1008, or E-mail: [email protected]

________________________           
PROF. NG MTSHALI

REGISTRAR & CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

DATE: _________________________

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