University and high school students were targets for this year’s provincial World Population Day commemoration held at Fort Hare University in Alice Campus.
Through Social Development and Special Programmes’ Population and Research Directorate, this year’s events was aimed to educate and raise awareness on sexual reproductive health and teenage pregnancy in youth in and out of school and to stimulate a response from decision makers on issues that will assist in reducing the plight of young people. The theme for this year was “Adolescent Pregnancy”.
The target audience was mainly students from the university and learners from the schools around the university town. Addressing the audience of mostly lively students, Dr Shweni, a gynaecologist working for the Department of Health was forthright in his speech when he said “denying people sexual activity has got fatal consequences”. This is one of his comments that drew gasps from this vibrant audience. It is detrimental, according to Dr Shweni, in that it is natural that the hormones have to do their secretion in a normal way. He went deep in his address in so far as the physiological make up is concerned. He encouraged pupils to delay sexual engagement. “Early sexual activity in life makes females susceptible to cancerous illnesses like cancer of the cervix. The body of a young woman is not ready for the sperms cells,” he added.
Dr Shweni also addressed abortion and discouraged backyard abortion. He gave a thumbs up to the use of contraception especially during the time that “we have widespread diseases like HIV and Aids”. “Termination of pregnancy should not replace contraception.”
Mr van Zydam from National Department of Social Development’s Population Policy and Research Unit touched on the impact of Population Policy on Youth Development. He mentioned that it has got “economic dividends in society”. He mentioned good education, economic activity and good health.
