Family planning key in avoiding unwanted pregnancies: Department Of Health
Gauteng Health MEC, Ms Qedani Mahlangu, has pleaded with members of the community to utilise contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies and undergo family planning when they intend to engage in reproductive process.
This comes as the department confirmed that 378 babies have been abandoned at its hospitals in the past three years (2013: 147; 2014: 124; January to September 2015: 107). The department said the reasons for child abandonment amongst others were: unwanted pregnancy, lack of family support, financial constraints due to unemployment, children deserted by fathers, fear of parents, resentment towards baby and teenage pregnancy.
The department spends around R 2000 per day for upkeep of each child (this is the amount the department generally spends on child patients). Hospital social workers work with various organisations including the Department of Social Development in order to place these children in homes and adoption agencies.
“In order to address this, we ensure that parents are identified and contact details are confirmed when they present for child birth. We conduct ongoing educational talks on contraceptives and choice of termination in our communities. We refer expecting mothers to social workers to discuss alternative options in case they do not want to keep the baby,” added MEC Mahlangu.
For more information please contact:
Steve Mabona
Cell: 072 574 3860
For media enquiries, please use the address: mediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za
