Family planning part of liberation of women: Minister Dlamini
The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, has lauded the launch of the National Family Planning Campaign by the Department of Health saying the initiative is a positive step forward in the liberation of women in the country. She was speaking during the Campaign launch at the Ethafeni Community Health Centre in Tembisa, Gauteng.
Minister Dlamini welcomed the Campaign as it would advance reproductive health rights of women which were sometimes disregarded in our patriarchal society.
Highlighting the importance of empowering women to take charge of their reproductive health, Minister Dlamini made reference to the study released by Statistics South Africa in November 2013, which painted a worrying picture about the presence of fathers in South African homes.
Titled South Africa’s young children: their family and home environment, the study showed that 42.5% of children aged below five years lived with their biological mother only. For infants, a total of 87.9% lived with their mothers but only a total of 39.1% of infants lived with their fathers.
Minister Dlamini pointed out that over 500 000 children are supported by government through the Foster Care Grant, and a further eleven million were supported through the Child Support Grant.
She encouraged women to make use of the family planning service.
“We urge our women to take full advantage of this progressive initiative the Department of Health is making available. Not only will it help women take charge of their lives and make decisions that will assist their development as well as that of their children, but it will also foster stronger families,” concluded Minister Dlamini.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
