KwaZulu-Natal MEC, Nomagugu Simelane, is concerned that not enough young people use condoms, family planning methods or the relatively new Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) pill which is highly effective at preventing HIV infection.
According to 2021 figures from Statistics South Africa, the total number of people living with HIV countrywide is estimated at approximately 8.2 million. The province of KZN accounts for 18.23% of that, which is the highest. In KZN, only 99 459 people are currently enrolled on PrEP.
While the MEC has vowed that the Department will strengthen efforts to promote PrEP, she has also urged young people to protect themselves. She said that young people must take advantage of the full basket of sexual reproductive health services that are available to them free of charge from clinics, community health centres and hospitals. This includes male and female condoms, birth control pills and intrauterine devices, injectables and implants.
The MEC recently launched a Youth Health Zone Centre in the province, which is the first of many that will be established throughout the province.
“We have done a lot to train our healthcare workers to be more welcoming and friendlier towards young people and will continue to do so. As healthcare workers, it is important that when we are at work, we put aside our parental caps and acknowledge that we are providing a service to everyone, regardless of their age,” said MEC Simelane.
The plan of the MEC is that every clinic, community health centre and hospital have a designated corner or area called the Youth Zone that must be available for young people. Each of the facilities will have a healthcare worker younger than 35 years of age who will be able to attend to the health needs of young people in a non-judgmental and welcoming manner.
The MEC also said that PrEP is not well known despite the many advantages in helping young people to prevent getting infected with HIV/Aids.
