Pretoria - Teens in Gauteng will get a chance to think about the consequences of pregnancy at an early stage in life when they take part in school debates designed to bring focus on the thorny issue.
In a joint effort to curb teenage pregnancies, the Gauteng Health and Social Development Department, provincial Education Department and NGOs will this month embark on a campaign that coincides with Pregnancy Awareness Week, which started on Monday.
The campaign will also look at sexually transmitted illnesses, including HIV, which also coincides with STI/Condom Week, observed from 13 to 19 February.
During the campaign, health promoters will be visiting high schools, addressing various topics linked to teenage pregnancy.
Tembisa in Ekurhuleni will receive special attention during the campaign, as it is regarded as a high risk area for both HIV infection and teenage pregnancy.
In 2008, Tembisa High School had 15 pregnancies, while neighbouring Zitikeni High School had 23 pregnancies. Two thousand people, most of them under the age of 18, terminated their pregnancies at the Tembisa Hospital and the hospital treated over 3 000 cases of people with STIs.
The average teenage delivery rate for the Gauteng province is 5.1 percent of the 200 000 total annual deliveries.
The department said 30 registered family planning nurses will also be trained during the campaign to strengthen Youth Friendly Services and Family Planning Programmes in clinics.
"The highlight of the campaign will be teenage awareness event that will be addressed by MEC for Health and Social Development, Ntombi Mekgwe, in Tembisa on 19 February 2011, where about 800 high school pupils are expected to attend.
