The Gauteng Department of Health has refuted claims that it intends to compel school girls aged 12 years and above to receive contraceptives without their consent.
According to reports, Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed this during a visit to Tshwane Secondary School earlier this month.
SCHOOL GIRLS WON’T BE FORCED TO TAKE CONTRACEPTIVES – GAUTENG HEALTH
The Gauteng Department of Health said during her visit to schools, Nkomo-Ralehoko has emphasised the importance of sexual reproductive health education and the role of parental involvement in discussions about the overall health of their children.
Nkomo-Ralehoko highlighted that, just as parents provide consent for immunisation and other health services through the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP), they should also be aware of available sexual and reproductive health and rights services, such as a range of contraceptive mix methods, STI prevention, screening, and management, that are accessible to their young ones.
These services include subdermal implants, a long-acting contraceptive, alongside other methods such as condom use and abstinence.
“It must be stated categorically that the department has no intention, whatsoever, to compel girls 12 years and above to receive or not to receive contraceptives without their consent,” Gauteng Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said.
WHAT PROGRAMMES ARE THERE TO TACKLE TEENAGE PREGNANCY?
Modiba also outlined programmes and interventions the department under the leadership of MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko has been driving to tackle head-on the issue of teenage pregnancy and other social ills troubling young people and society in general.
Some of the programmes include Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Intervention Plan
Modiba said recognising that teenage pregnancy remains a pressing societal challenge, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko has championed the development of the Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Intervention Plan which was launched on 30 April 2024.
The plan focuses on three key areas; advocacy and social mobilisation, behaviour change communication, and targeted programmatic interventions.
During the launch, the department revealed that the breakdown of teenage deliveries in facilities by the district during the 2022/23 period shows that Ekurhuleni District had the highest number of adolescent deliveries in facilities with 6 670, followed by Johannesburg District with 6 069, Tshwane District with 4 858, whilst West Rand District had 1 729. Lastly, Sedibeng District had 1 429 teenage deliveries in the facility among 10- to 19-year-old girls.
In addition, there has been an increase in termination of pregnancies (TOP) in facilities among girls aged 10 to 19. A total of 24 941 deliveries and TOPs were recorded in facilities across the province during the 2022/2023 period. This data shows an increase of 496 cases compared to the 24 445 recorded in the previous year (2021/2022).
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