Thembisa Shologu
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has committed to expanding its youth-friendly services to address the underlying issues affecting adolescents in the province.
On Tuesday, the department, in partnership with the Gauteng AIDS Council, convened a multi-sectoral seminar to address the rising numbers of teenage pregnancies, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and mental health, which are serious social ills that need urgent interventions by all sectors of society.
With over 24 941 cases of teenage deliveries and terminations of pregnancy recorded among girls aged 10 to 19 years of age during the 2022–2023 period, and Ekurhuleni as the highest at more than 6 670 cases, statistics have highlighted urgent interventions to curb this.
Speaking at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, Acting Chief Operating Officer Dr Mkhulu Selepe announced that the province has set a goal to increase t
he number of adolescent-friendly healthcare facilities from 294 to 310 by 2025 as part of its commitment to adolescent and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.
“This expansion is important in ensuring that more young people across Gauteng have access to these services that will help them make better health choices,” said Selepe.
A young activist who shared her personal experience of falling pregnant at 14 years of age, Nozipho Ndlela, reflected on the challenges she faced as a teenage single mother.
“The experience was too much for me. I had no support from the father of my child as he ran away. I sometimes had to use my T-shirts as nappies for the baby. This affected me so much I even took out my frustration on my child,” Ndlela revealed.
The seminar can be seen as a step towards fostering a community that prioritises the health and well-being of its youth, addressing not only immediate concerns but also laying the foundation for sustainable solutions in the future.
The City of Ekurhuleni MMC for Health and Social Services, Bridget Thusi, said that in collaboration with the Gauteng Government, they were committed to developing actionable strategies and policies aligned with health and wellness goals for 2023-2028.
“These policies will create an environment where young individuals feel empowered to seek information and support concerning sexual and reproductive health, as well as mental health resources,” said MMC Thusi.
SOURCED FROM THE GPG WEBSITE.
