NATIONAL NEWS - South Africa will continue working to improve access to reproductive health care services.
Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu says the newly completed five-year plan for the country’s 6th democratic administration affirmed that the country will in the next five years continue to improve access to reproductive health services, including targeting adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in order to address pregnancies and risky behaviour.
The plan also includes up-scaling existing campaigns and programmes on new HIV infections among youth, women and persons with disabilities.
It will also develop targeted programmes on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, including gender mainstreaming, youth and disability issues in programmes and addressing teenage pregnancies.
He said the country will strive to further reduce child and maternal mortality and to improve access to reproductive health services and anti-retroviral treatment.
Highlighting some of the country’s interventions in ensuring access to quality health services, he said the country is currently piloting the National Health Insurance (NHI) in order to enhance universal access to quality health care as well as to bridge the quality gaps that exist in the private and public sectors.
“South Africa has also embraced the importance of extending free dignity packs to poor women and girls with a view to improve women’s reproductive health and contribute to the retention of girl children in schools who often miss school during their cycle.
We are confident that these interventions will ensure that we continue to place people at the centre of our developmental agenda.”
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