Durban - KwaZulu- Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has expressed shock at the sharp rise in teenage pregnancies recorded this year, saying government programmes to tackle the issue had not produced the desired outcomes.
Simelane was briefing members of the provincial legislature yesterday on the department’s performance as part of the annual performance plan for the 2022/23 financial year, which covers the period from April to June.
The MEC revealed that, while there had been awareness campaigns about the importance of safe sex and abstinence as measures to prevent pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, there had been setbacks.
“Worryingly, we have seen an increase in the rate of teenage pregnancy, which accounts for 17.4% of total deliveries. Women also present late for antenatal care, and the uptake of contraceptives is not ideal,” said the MEC yesterday.
As a response to this, the MEC said the department was set to hold consultative engagements and dialogues with stakeholders, including teenagers.
“This year, we will integrate this with our ‘She Conquers’ programme, while upscaling our contraceptives and family planning campaigns. We will hold community dialogues to promote early antenatal care booking.”
The department was also set to continue offering antenatal care at all its service points, as well as extending antenatal care services beyond 4pm and on weekends at its 24-hour clinics.
Simelane also admitted to the shortage of ambulances and the impact this had on swift medical care.
Some of the challenges included: Staff shortages in key positions within the department for people who had resigned, retired or even died, owing to the budget constraints.
An increase in long-stay patients with complications, resulting in theatre operation backlogs.
Delays by the State Information Technology Agency and Vodacom in resolving connectivity challenges, impacting on the roll-out of e-health
She said the department was seeking approval from the Treasury to procure a second network through Telkom.
Simelane also highlighted its successes, which included:
Having 10 147 community health workers on contract.
The installation of stable information communication and technology to 63 of the 70 hospitals in the province.
The immunisation of children under the age of 1, as well as the provision of Vitamin A doses.
DA MPL Edwin Baptie called for an engagement that would include community structures and the identification of areas that were hot spots for teenage pregnancy. “What this calls for is a joint approach which will include the social development and education departments to determine the cause of the problem, because it is quite clear that the health department is unable to do this by itself,” said Baptie.
The IFP’s Ncamisile Nkwanyana said the report placed the spotlight on the decline in moral values and irresponsible teen behaviour.
“There is an urgent need for interdepartmental collaboration among the departments of social development, health, and education in order to educate, empower and create awareness among the youth about unplanned parenthood.”