Gauteng Health says strategy to fight teenage pregnancy is showing results

Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has applauded the province’s teenage pregnancy strategy saying it is working.

The strategy developed in 2023 aims to cut the high pregnancy rates by tackling health issue and socioeconomic factors facing the youth.

The MEC was speaking at the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus on Thursday where she also handed out gifts to some of the mothers of babies born on Christmas day.

By late afternoon yesterday Gauteng was celebrating the safe delivery of over 200 healthy babies, with the numbers set to increase.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said that the department has worked hard to try bring the numbers of teenage pregnancy down.

She also added that the department is working with the justice system ensuring that underage mums who are victims of statutory rape get justice.

She said that their strategy has seen teams going in all the schools in the province to conduct such workshops and educational programmes.

She added that the strategy also utilised youth friendly health services, offers counselling, testing and reproductive care without counselling.

"Since we implemented the strategy we have seen the numbers drop immediately in the province and we have strengthened our primary health care services, we have youth zones in the clinics."

She added that in January these educational programmes will commence.