Bungling of birth control

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) says there is a need for more awareness of family planning services that are available to both men and women to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

IFP health spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal Ncamisile Nkwanyana said: “We need to increase awareness about family planning and services available to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

“In addition, men do not feature prominently when it comes to sharing the family planning responsibilities.

“There is a need to strengthen the empowerment of men, particularly adolescents and young men, to increase the effectiveness of the prevention of unintended pregnancies and [sexually transmitted infections].

“We have men who go to the extent of stopping their women from making informed choices on family planning, but that needs to stop.”

Meanwhile, regarding women who wanted abortions camping overnight outside Addington Hospital in Durban, Nkwanyana said: “We are very concerned about this because it exposes women to the dangers of being raped and robbed by criminals at night.

“This situation needs urgent attention from KZN MEC of health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo because we are of the view that if people are not getting help at Addington Hospital they will resort to backstreet abortions conducted by bogus doctors.” – ANA