Gauteng is continuing to make strides in improving the lives of children, ensuring that they are protected from preventable diseases and they realise their growth potential.
The incidence of severe malnutrition has decreased from 3.5% to 2.9% at the end of March 2013 indicating that more children are getting the nutrition they need for their development in Gauteng.
This achievement is as a result of efforts by the Gauteng Department of Health to reach the goal of reducing child deaths from preventable causes and also to ensure that children are protected from harm in the province.
Another fruitful initiative to ensure that children are healthy and safe includes the Department’s exclusive breastfeeding campaign which is assisting in increasing the number of healthy babies.
Immunisation is another critical intervention aimed at increasing child survival by eliminating deaths from preventable causes. This service is provided daily by all clinics and some hospitals in Gauteng. Coverage of children under five years has consistently been above the national target of 90%. The percentage of children under one year who were fully immunised was 113.5% in the 2012/13 financial year.
There also have been notable improvements in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission. Only 1.9% of babies born to HIV-positive mothers tested positive when tested at the age of six weeks.
As Child Protection Week (27 May until 2 June 2013) approaches, the department’s Clinical Forensic Medicine Unit is conducting an awareness campaign, educating both children and parents on children’s rights and safety.
As of Monday, 20 May until Thursday 23 May, they are conducting a door to door campaign in Alra Park, Nigel which aims at educating parents about their children’s safety, the services provided in Gauteng to assist parents and children as well as how these services can be accessed.
Some of the topics that they will focus on include adolescence and peer pressure which usually results in drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, health problems due to bad eating habits and getting involved in criminal activities amongst others.
To end this week long activity, this Friday, 24 May starting at 9am, the Department will host Child Protection Week event in Alra Park Stadium, Nigel targeting school going children.
This event, which is in partnership with Gauteng Departments of Education, Social Development, Community Safety, Correctional Service as well as South African Police Service, Ekurhuleni Municipality, South African Cancer Association and other local NGOs.
All these departments will have stalls where they will provide interactive programmes on safety and protection of children. Activities will focus on amongst others road safety; health safety; sports and recreation activities.
During the current financial year, the department will continue to strengthen programmes such as school health to ensure that children in the province are healthy and safe.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
