Latest news with #ProvincialCouncilonAids
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Teen moms avoid healthcare amid fears of reporting rape, discloses KZN health MEC
The health of teen moms and their babies hangs in the balance as young rape victims are too scared to access formal healthcare when giving birth. This was revealed by KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, who said this is owing to the laws compelling those in authority to report the rape. ALSO READ: KZN Health MEC places cervical cancer prevention in spotlight Speaking at a meeting of the Provincial Council on Aids in Durban last Thursday, Simelane expressed her deep concern over the growing number of teenage and child pregnancies, particularly those involving adult men. 'This issue is both a health crisis and a social justice emergency that requires urgent intervention,' she said. 'This puts young girls at high risk, especially when they are forced to give birth in unsafe conditions. South African law defines statutory rape as any sexual activity with a person under the age of 16, and makes the reporting of such cases to law enforcement mandatory.' Simelane believes that an urgent and collaborative dialogue involving parents, traditional leaders, civil society and the government is needed to decisively address this disturbing pattern. 'I want to make a proposal that we lead from the front in combatting this crisis. We need to come together and deal with this matter head on because these activities are happening right where we are. Children get pregnant in our societies in our communities. 'Unless we talk about it and act decisively, we will continue to see young lives destroyed. We are raising a broken generation if we remain silent.' Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Call for community dialogue to address child and teenage pregnancies
Call for community dialogue to address child and teenage pregnancies Clinics and hospitals are required by law to report all suspected cases of statutory rape. This is according to KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, who has called for dialogue to address teenage and child pregnancies, particularly the 'disturbing pattern of older men impregnating underage girls'. ALSO READ: Department of Health makes sexual health easier for women 'I want to make a proposal that we lead from the front in combatting this crisis between ourselves and district mayors, amakhosi (traditional leaders) and izinduna (headmen) – we need to come together and deal with this matter head-on because these activities are happening right where we are, children get pregnant in our societies in our communities. 'Unless we talk about it and act decisively, we will continue to see young lives destroyed. We are raising a broken generation if we remain silent,' she said. Simelane was speaking at a meeting of the Provincial Council on Aids held in Durban. South African law defines statutory rape as any sexual activity with a person under the age of 16, and makes the reporting of such cases to law enforcement mandatory. She said the issue is both a health crisis and a social justice emergency that demands speedy intervention. 'We are extremely worried about the high number of children who are falling pregnant,' said MEC Simelane. 'What is even more concerning is that some of these young victims stop accessing healthcare and social services once they realise that we are legally required to report the perpetrators. 'In many cases, this is done to protect breadwinners or due to informal agreements between families. But this puts young girls at high risk, especially when they are forced to give birth in unsafe conditions.' Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
21-05-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
KZN's fight against HIV/Aids hinges on Ramaphosa-Trump meeting, budget
KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli said the provincial strategy to combat HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections hinged on the outcome of President Cyril Ramaphosa's US visit and the adoption of the national budget. Ntuli was speaking during a sitting of the Provincial Council on Aids (PCA) in Mayville, Durban, on Wednesday to discuss the status of KZN's HIV response and explore sustainable ways to maintain and enhance progress in combating the epidemic. The PCA is a structure of the SA National Aids Council which serves as the primary co-ordinating body for each province's response to all STIs. It is chaired by the premier and includes different stakeholders including government, civil society and traditional leaders to develop and implement provincial strategic plans. This year's PCA meeting came as the country's HIV/Aids fighting efforts were affected by fiscal constraints and heightened geopolitical tensions with the US, which saw President Donald Trump — in one of his first executive orders in office — cancelling the USAID programme and PEPFAR funding. The PEPFAR funding, which amounted to R1.5bn had a significant impact on the fight against HIV and Aids in South Africa as it supported important roles in health, education and social development. Ntuli said another implication of the withdrawal of the funding was the more than 5,000 job losses for people employed under the programme. 'I am certain many of us already know of human beings and livelihoods that this sudden withdrawal has negatively affected through job losses,' Ntuli said. 'This unfortunate development is frustrating our long-term plans which were based on the 'certainty' of this funding stream.' He said the provincial government is pinning its hopes on the delegation led by Ramaphosa being able to persuade the US to restore the funding. 'Our position is that it is not our place to interfere with the policies of another country, but we would wish to see these funds being made available again, and the PEPFAR funding reinstated. 'We believe this will not be the last engagement with the US administration, but the beginning of new negotiations that will reopen room for continuing engagements including on the cancelled programmes.' Ntuli emphasised the importance of quickly finalising the national budget, which has been delayed since March, as vital for the PCA, as it will provide clarity on funding for government programmes this financial year. 'Both these events — the president's US trip and the tabling of the national budget — have critical economic and financial implications as we sharpen our battle plan against HIV, TB and STIs in KwaZulu-Natal.' He warned that the current fiscal landscape, in which they rely on allocated funds, means it is essential to adjust spending and programmes to match the available resources. 'We are in the age of leaner and smaller budgets, and unless there is a major change in economic growth projections, we will continue to struggle as a country and, by extension, KZN. Yet we must fight on.' Ntuli said mother-to-child HIV transmission has been reduced from over 70,000 annual cases before 2004 to just 643 in 2024 while life expectancy has increased from 54.7 years in 2010 to 66.5 years in 2024. 'When I look at the numbers, I see the real impact being made by your intervention as men and women of the PCA in mobilising society and implementing our provincial plan. While we are still the highest in HIV infection in the country, we are collectively fighting back.'
