LIFESTYLE NEWS - With February - the month of love - upon us, young people must consider the negative implications of unprotected sex.
Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape Minister of Health, urges the youth to take this message to heart, stressing that engaging in sexual intercourse responsibly could reduce the consequences of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.
"It is important for you to safeguard your sexual health. The best way to do so is to ensure that you protect yourself and your partner. Be responsible!
"Use contraception to avoid STIs and unintended pregnancies. It's easy to think it won't happen to you, but it can," says Mbombo.
The minister said that 87 788 babies were delivered at Western Cape Government Health facilities during 2016 and this had increased with 2 162 by the end of 2017.
"It is important to highlight that in the same period, 14 981 medical and surgical abortions took place.
"This number had increased with 230 by the end of of 2017. How many of these unplanned pregnancies could've been avoided if individuals had used contraception?" asks Mbombo.
Sexual health services
Family planning and various methods of contraception are available at no cost at all Primary Health Care facilities in the Western Cape.
The Western Cape Department of Health is dedicated to providing high quality reproductive and sexual health information and services to all citizens, especially young people.
"Contraceptives are very effective when used correctly and consistently, Condoms are both effective in preventing pregnancy and preventing STI's such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis - the top three STIs in the Western Cape," she says.
She highlights that it has been more than 30 years since HIV / AIDS was first detected, and through the years, there has been much improvement in the detection and treatment of the disease.
"We estimate that there are 441 912 people living with HIV in the Western Cape, of which 400 514 know their status and 244 195 are on lifelong antiretroviral treatment."
Numbers recorded by the Health Department bring home the shocking facts:
- In 2015, there were 5 394 deliveries to girls between the ages of 10 and 18 years.
- In 2017, in a mere three months from January to March, 1 311 deliveries to girls in this age group were recorded.
- Since April 2017, the Western Cape Government Health records pregnancy between the ages of 10 and 19 years. This had accumulated to 7 649 deliveries by the end of December 2017.
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