NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 12
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 12 FEBRUARY 2015
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 01)
Ms D Carter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) Whether his department is working with the South African Police
Service (SAPS) to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those who were
illegally offering abortions through street advertisements and other
means in order to bring an end to the exploitation of vulnerable women
by fake doctors;
(2) whether his department has taken steps to ensure that clinics which
offer the termination of pregnancy were not acting in a manner which
drive desperate women to seek illegal abortions as a better
alternative; if not, why not; if so, what are the details of his
departmentâs success for the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014?
NW13E
REPLY:
1) Yes, the Department of Health is working together with the South
African Police Service in dealing with illegal abortionists in the
country. However, the people who are offering illegal abortions do
not operate in clinics, they operate as mobile service providers where
they make appointments with their clients to meet along the streets
then take them to a house or a structure that is not easily
identifiable. Unfortunately these women do not come forth to report
any complications of unsafe abortions.
2) The Department of Health is providing Termination of Pregnancy (TOP)
in the designated health facilities at no cost. Doctors and nurses
have been trained in Manual Vacuum Aspiration to provide safe TOP.
The Department introduced Medical Abortion to increase access to TOP
services. The Department continues to conduct Value Clarification
workshops to empower professionals and communities. Debriefing
sessions are also conducted for professionals providing TOP services.
During the period of 2012-2014 a total of 80,775 TOPs were performed
safely in the country.
END.