MEC Kasienyane warns bogus doctors to close shop or face full might of the law

North West MEC for Health and Social Development Rebecca Kasienyane has warned bogus doctors operating backstreet abortion clinics in the North West towns to close shop or face the full might of the law.

“The illegal practice is an insult to women and what they stand for. We are closely working with law enforcement to eradicate the existence of bogus doctors operating freely in our province as if they own the place,” said MEC Kasienyane.

Debating with communities about pregnancy resolution in Taung, MEC Kasienyane said that the practice is a worry because “we do not have assurance of the quality of services rendered by these mushrooming back yard facilities which we feel actually puts the lives of our people in danger and we must put a stop to it”.

Kasienyane highlighted that the department spend a lot of money on resources and facilities which remain underutilised.

“Regardless of our efforts, we still have underutilisation of the service from designated health institutions and this can be attributed to lack of customer education about the Choice for Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) programme as a whole and in particular about the benefits of the available reliable service.

“A worrying outcome of this challenge has been an escalation of utilisation of back yard abortions. The problem facing the department is that most of the people who use these backstreet service providers often flock back to the health care facilities with serious complications. This is not only costly to the department but also creates a burden on the healthcare system” Kasienyane told participants.

Since the implementation of the Choice for Termination of Pregnancy Act in 1996, the province has made available seventeen public hospitals, five private hospitals and three community health centres for the service.

Participants, mainly females, blamed it on lack of education and treatment by health professionals performing the practice.

A study conducted in March 2007 indicated that most women settle for illegal abortion due to lack of information about the service, delayed acceptance of the options, late identification of pregnancy after three months, conflict of emotions and lack of access.

The deliberations were attended by medical professionals, traditional leaders and traditional healers.

Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 299 958 /078 1700 037
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za(link sends email)

Province

Share this page

Similar categories to explore