Media release: Busy month for Health

February was a busy month on the health calendar.   Health teams have been out in full force across the district  to educate and provide guidance on family planning (pregnancy education week), Human Papilloma Virus (HPV first round) and Sexually Transmittable Disease (STI and condom month).

Pregnancy Education Week

Using protection during sexual activities will not only reduces the risk of unplanned pregnancies, but also prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS.

Teenage pregnancy, the use of emergency contraceptives, early bookings, and access to prenatal care was the focus of this year’s Pregnancy Education Week from 12 – 19 February.

Between April 2019 to December 2021, 3922 teenage pregnancies were recorded at public hospitals in the Garden Route District. This is 14% of the total deliveries for the district.

The Department has various support programs in place to assist pregnant teenagers who have social challenges as part of the First 1000 Days plan, where a child’s health is most vulnerable during the first 1 000 days of its life and the mother’s mental health is important for a healthy pregnancy and birth. This period, from conception until a child’s 2nd birthday, offers a unique window of opportunity to shape healthier and more prosperous futures.

Another form of support as part of the First 1000 Days program for young mothers is the MomConnect mobile platform which has three main objectives:

• To register each pregnancy at a government health facility.
• To send stage-based, personalised SMSes to each mom in the registry.
• To allow women to engage with the health system through help desk tools and services.

 Human Papilloma virus (HPV)

 The first round of this year’s campaign takes place from 14 February 2022 until 31 March 2022

HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women after breast cancer. Over 99% of all cervical cancers are caused by persistent infection of high-risk types of HPV.  The vaccination protects girls from being infected by HPV and reduces the risk of developing HPV related cervical cancer later in life. The younger your daughter is, the better her body’s immune system can respond to the vaccine, resulting in the production of protective antibodies against the virus. The provincial campaign at public and special schools is only targeted at Grade 5 girls over 9 years of age. Please remember to send the signed consent form to school. If your daughter is attending a private school and you would like her to be vaccinated, you need to contact a private health care facility and have the vaccination done privately          

STI and Condom Month

Sexually Transmitted Infections are infections caused by germs that are passed from one person to another mainly during unprotected sex. Most symptoms are easily noticed and can be treated if reported early to the sister at the clinic.

How will I know if I have an STI?

You may have an STI if you have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Discharge from the penis, burning or pain when passing urine.
• Abnormal vaginal discharge, smelly, itching, burning or painful urination.
• Mild to severe lower abdominal pain, sometimes fever, with or without vaginal discharge.
• Sore(s) or blisters on the genitals with or without painful swelling in the groin.
• Sores, itching of glands, penis pain.
• Scrotal swelling, with or without pain.

We urge the public to make use of the services we provide to better their health and that of their community.

For more information visit: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/health

Feature photo: School Health teams visited Franken Primary School as part of the HPV campaign. From left: Mona Fortuin, Henrunesha Blouw, Elvina Jaftha and Jennifer Bielh.

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Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health

Tel: 044 813 1831
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za