The country’s teen birth rate has sparked widespread concern among provincial health ministers.
Also read: Pregnant woman buys her husband a Lamborghini as reward for sleepless nights
On New Year’s Day, the country had 1703 births, with 190 of them being teen mothers. Two 14-year-old girls from KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape were the youngest recorded.
This comes after 145 Christmas babies were born to teenagers across the country, raising a red flag.
The National Health Department expressed concern about the growing number of teen mothers and the impact on their future.
Ten of the 253 New Year’s babies born in the Western Cape were delivered by teen mothers.
Nomafrench Mbombo, the province’s Health MEC, emphasised the importance of fathers’ roles in the development of their children.
Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under R100 000. Find car listings here.
‘As per the First Thousand Days approach, I wish to emphasise the role of fathers in raising healthy infants and young children.’
‘This period is recognised as a unique opportunity when the foundations for optimum health and development across the lifespan are established.’
‘The department encourages fathers to be involved in raising young children as much as possible, to foster good physical and mental development,’ she said.
Mbombo also directed fathers to the department’s Road to Health booklet, which highlights a number of health milestones for fathers to follow.
‘We encourage parents to take note of the importance and impact the first 1 000 days has on a child’s life. In the next few years, we implore that children are given nutritious diets, that they are kept current with their immunisations, and that they enjoy a healthy and safe living environment.’
‘The department encourages all prospective moms to schedule early bookings and visit their closest clinics to make use of available antenatal care services in the first 20 weeks.’
‘Early intervention during pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life can result in significant gains in the long-term physical and cognitive development of a child.’
‘At some clinics we offer youth-friendly services, specifically aimed at the younger age patients,’ she said.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla also emphasised the importance of support, reminding fathers and family members that raising a child takes a village.
Foster Mohale, his spokesperson, explained that the Department of Health, in collaboration with sister departments such as Social Development and Basic Education, as well as other stakeholders such as Higher Health, Love Life, and Soul City, will ramp up sexual and reproductive health awareness campaigns across the country.
‘Teen pregnancy is a societal problem which requires all hands on deck because some teenage mothers are likely to face critical social issues like poverty and poor education outcomes with potential to contribute to poor health issues and child welfare.’
‘This (awareness campaign) will target both school-going and out of school youth to empower them with health education and the dangers of early sexual debut, unprotected sex, and other risky sexual behaviours apart from teenage pregnancy,’ Mohale said.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Escape the loadshedding blues with a R250 voucher towards a dining experience at Hacienda. Get it here.
Also read:
Children having children: Over 600 girls aged 9 and 10 are moms as of 2020
Picture: freestocks / Unsplash
