MEC tells learners: ‘Delay your sexual debut to secure your future’

KZN HEALTH MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo has urged all young people to delay their sexual debut for as long as possible, saying that this is key to help them realise their potential, and to safeguard their positive educational and health outcomes.

‘Do not use your bodies as insurance for marriage,’  he told learners from Fanelesibonge High School at Nquthu, at Umzinyathi District yesterday .

‘A child who falls pregnant at 15 is simply not ready to give birth.

‘She is at risk of dying and also losing that baby, unless she delivers by caesarean section – and even then, there may be complications,’ he said.

‘And chances are, by the time she is 17, she will fall pregnant for the second time, and again have a third child at 21.

He warned that when the boy who has made her pregnant wants to take a wife, he will most likely pay lobolo for someone else.

The Minister urged the youngsters to pride themselves  by abstaining, and say finish school, go to university, study and find work. ‘ before concerning myself with romantic relationships and the complications they bring’.

MEC Dhlomo said young people who cannot abstain should rather use Dual Protection, which is a combination of medical male circumcision and using condoms during every sexual episode; while combining this with contraceptive methods for women.

‘I plead with you to be responsible for your health.

MEC Dhlomo also advised girls and young women to spurn any excuses from their partners who do not want to use condoms.

‘If you want to use condoms and your partner asks if this is because you don’t ‘trust’ them, tell them that in fact this is because you don’t trust yourself and you don’t want to infect them.

The visit to Nquthu will be followed by a multi government department blitz in Nquthu on Wednesday, 10 May, as part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS), which is led by the Honourable Premier Mr Willies Mchunu.

OSS is a structured continuous interaction between Government and the community in a concerted bid to ensure integrated service delivery and the 12 National Outcomes of government.

These include:

  -Improved quality of basic education

  -A long and healthy life for all South Africans

  -Skilled and capable workforce to support   inclusive growth path

  Youth and women are the majority in the country and in this regard, should play a critical to support inclusive economic growth

MEC Dhlomo, several amakhosi, izinduna and political leaders also distributed glasses, wheelchairs and food parcels to identified deserving community members.

ALSO READ: Zulu King condemns gymslip pregnancies 

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 072 069 4169

Instagram – zululand_observer