Africa-Press – South-Africa. She said:
Campbell added that it was the government’s focus to ensure that safe abortions were accessed in communities.
She called for advanced sex education in schools, especially education programmes that target vulnerable adolescents.
Some protesters lined the streets, holding posters and banners that read: “Do you know termination of pregnancy is legal in South Africa?” and, “Backstreet abortion leads to long-term health complications.”
Others scrubbed walls in the town to remove posters that encourage illegal pregnancy terminations.
After the march, the deputy minister, the MEC, and the mayor held a dialogue with the youth and gave them an opportunity to air their views or shed light on the challenges they face when consulting local clinics about abortions or for routine health screenings.
Biggest challenges
Gomolemo Kodisang from LoveLife said one of the biggest challenges was access to facilities for people seeking help with issues relating to their sexual orientation.
“We have all the necessary information to equip the youth, but that does not matter because we can’t just tell them to come to the clinic for prevention, since their teachers and families won’t let them,” she said.
Ndondo Nkabinde from the Ethafeni Clinic said a friendly and welcoming environment was needed to educate people.
“There is information present, but the problem is that there is no availability on the ground. We need to be more friendly and host activities that bring youth to the clinic, or extra classes where they will find their peers.”
Others questioned why calls for safer pregnancy terminations were only made during Women’s Month.
Some youths said nurses were rude, not helpful and made snide remarks when young girls sought abortions.
Dhlomo pointed out that youth zones had been put in place at 1 917 health facilities to allow young people to engage sympathetic nursing staff.
He said those health facilities must ensure confidentiality because a safe space allows the youth to be more open and honest about their challenges and to seek answers to questions they have.
Dhlomo also said parents should change their attitudes towards sex education and allow for dialogues in schools so that pupils would be more informed.
The department is working closely with law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal abortion, according to the deputy minister.
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