Pretoria- Teenage pregnancies lead to girls possibly not completing their education resulting impacting on their ability to be economically independent said Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC Ntombi Mekgwe.
"Girl learners who fall pregnant do not always return to complete their education which impacts on their ability to be economically independent," Mekgwe said at the launch of teenage pregnancy awareness campaign in Tembisa on Saturday. Tembisa has the province's highest rate of teenage pregnancies.
"We have come here to say the future of the African child can no longer be postponed. We have a responsibility to our communities and the whole country to ensure that the overall being of the girl child is nurtured and safeguarded," she said.
Mekgwe said teenage pregnancy is a problem not only at school but it is also a health and social problem, adding that a holistic solution is needed.
"While targeting young girls, we also need to target young boys.We need to go further, and address causes of this problem."
She called on parents not to neglect their responsibility towards their children as dysfunctional family units also contributed to the problem.
According to Mekgwe 1 756 girls under the age of 18 gave birth at health facilities (Esangweni clinic and Tembisa hospital) between April 2009 and December 2010.
"This figure does not include 203 girls under the age of 18 who had their pregnancy terminated at Tembisa hospital from April 2009 until December 2010."
She said society has a role to play in making a difference. "The role of our clinics and development centres will be very crucial in this regard. When young people visit our health facilities needing help on sexual health matters, it is not correct that health professionals should judge them," she explained.
The Department, along with the Department of Education and Non-Governmental organisation, embarked on a month-long campaign educate school going children about the implications of unprotected sex, with the aim of reducing the number of pregnant teenagers in Gauteng schools.
