NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 722
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 07 March 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 4)
Mrs H S Msweli (IFP) to ask the Minister of Health:
Whether he is prioritising educating our youth (a) against having
unprotected sex and (b) the effects of unwanted teen pregnancies; if not,
why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW787E
REPLY:
a) & (b) Yes, we have prioritised youth and adolescent health by
advocating for promotion of healthy lifestyles and reducing risky
behaviour amongst youth and adolescents through an intensive
programme in line with the four (4) outcomes of the Negotiated
Service Delivery Agreement:
i) Increase life expectancy;
ii) Reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity rates;
iii) Combat HIV and AIDS and decreasing the burden of disease from
Tuberculosis
iv) Improve health services efficiency, effectiveness and
responsiveness
The pillars of the education are:
i) Abstention and delaying sex;
ii) Knowing oneâs HIV status and acting healthily;
v) Practice of safer sex â use of condoms and non-penetrative
sexual intercourse.
All interventions addressing the health needs of youth and
adolescents are aligned to the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach
that focuses on prevention and promotion. Health education and
informed decision-making form the integral part of all inventions.
The school health programme that is being planned by various
stakeholders, which shall in due course be launched by the
Ministers of Basic Education and of Health, shall be the key
strategy in terms of youth health programmes and will furnish
further details as it is concluded.
END.