New skin deep contraceptive available at clinics

The days of forgetting to take the pill or missing an appointment for the next injection are over.

The new sub-dermal implant contraceptive is now available at 88 primary health care facilities across Ekurhuleni.

Since the launch of the implant into public health facilities by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, in February, this year, the metro 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,” said manager for maternal health, childcare and women’s health, Dr Zodwa Mabange.

The contraceptive device – which is inserted underneath the skin on the inner side of a woman’s upper arm – has proven to be a popular method of contraceptive.

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,” said Mabange.

Meanwhile, the metro is continuing to train more of its nurses and soon women who visit Motsamai Clinic, Germiston City Clinic, Selope Thema Clinic and Spartan Clinic will also have the option to utilise this form of contraception.

Presently they are being referred to nearby clinics.

In the Germiston area, women can visit the following clinics for the sub-dermal implant contraceptive: Wannenburg Clinic, Klopper Park Clinic, Elsburg Clinic, Dukathole Clinic, Leondale Clinic, Rondebult Clinic, Katlehong North Clinic, Zonkizizwe Clinic One and Two, Palm Ridge Clinic and Ramokonopi Clinic.