Pretoria – In just four months, since the Health Department launched a new contraceptive device, 362 000 women have benefited, exceeding the annual target of 320 000.
The new contraceptive device, called the Sub-dermal implant, was launched in February, by Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, during the unveiling of a new National Family Planning Campaign, held under the theme “Dual Protection”.
The device is implanted just under the skin on the inner upper arm and remains active for three years.
It is being provided in all public health facilities, free of charge to any woman, regardless of her socio-economic status.
Delivering the department’s Budget Vote, on Wednesday, Minister Motsoaledi noted that when they started, they had agreed to order 80 000 units of the implant every quarter, meaning that at least 320 000 implants per annum would have been inserted.
“We were pleasantly surprised, that in only four months, we have already inserted 362 000 implants, far exceeding what we regarded as an annual targeted 320 000. Already, 600 000 implants have been ordered and we have cause to believe that they will all be inserted by the end of the financial year,” Minister Motsoaledi said.
The Minister also announced that up to now, 5 325 nurses across all public health facilities have been trained and are now able to insert the implant even in the absence of a doctor.
HPV Vaccine programme
Also giving an update on the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine programme, launched in March this year, Minister Motsoaledi announced that just over 345 377 Grade 4 girls, eligible for the vaccine, have been immunised.
Launched together with the Basic Education Department, the HPV vaccine programme aims to protect Grade 4 learners against the dreadful cancer of the uterus.
“Over 2 000 vaccination teams were trained and visited over 90% of all public schools that have Grade 4 learners, during March and April this year. These teams immunised over 87% or just over 345 377 of the eligible Grade 4 girls. We are planning for a second dose in September and October 2014, and thereafter we will immunise new Grade 4 girls every year,” the Minister said.
He explained that the girls that have not yet turned nine-years during the year that they are in Grade 4, will be vaccinated the following year even if they leave the Grade 4 class.
The Minister also recommitted that his department will do everything in its power to reach its goals on maternal, woman and child health.
“To this end, we shall make sure that pregnant women are not just passive recipients of healthcare but are also active participants in claiming healthcare from our public health facilities.” – SAnews.gov.za
