ALBERTON – Since the launch of the implant at public health facilities by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in February this year, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has trained 142 of its nurses to be competent in inserting the implant without supervision.
“Upon completing a short course, each trainee is required to practically insert five implants under supervision at a clinic before becoming accredited. This is to ensure that the staff member is competent and can therefore implant independently,” says the Manager for Maternal Health, Childcare and Women’s Health, Dr. Zodwa Mabange.
The contraceptive device is inserted underneath the skin on the inner side of a woman’s upper arm. This contraceptive does not need to be taken every day nor do you have to go for injections once a month.
Over 14 800 women in Ekurhuleni have already had the sub-dermal contraceptive device inserted at public facilities since March 2014.
“Since we began with the rollout, we have received positive feedback from women and no cases of fatal side effects have been reported,” added Mabange.
Clinics in Alberton offering the implant contraceptive are Alberton North Clinic and Brackenhurst Clinic.
