Sister Patience Maluleka from the Rabie Ridge Clinic spoke to hundreds of teenagers at Rabie Ridge Stadium on February 21.

She encouraged them to visit the clinic to access services designed to prevent teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), emphasising that it is essential for young people to utilise the clinic’s resources for important information and support.

Additionally, she strongly advocated for abstaining from sexual intercourse.

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Maluleka said the clinic’s mission is to empower young people, particularly young girls, to focus on their futures and ambitions rather than being sidetracked by early motherhood, which brings immense challenges.

“So, you can gladly come [to the clinic], and we give you more information, especially for the adolescent youth services that we do offer to young girls…,” said Maluleka. “We do not want teenagers to become pregnant because their mindsets are not ready for that. We want them to become young, successful girls, to adhere to all the dreams that they have and all the aspirations. There are services we render.”

Highlighting the alarming rise in teenage pregnancies in the country, she declared it a pressing issue that demands immediate action. “Teenage pregnancy is a pandemic in this country. We don’t want young children having children when they are not ready mentally, physically and emotionally. To be a mother is very stressful.”

During her address, she provided a comprehensive overview of contraceptive methods, including oral contraceptives, injectables, implants, and the intrauterine device. She said that while these methods can prevent pregnancy, they do not protect against STIs, thus reinforcing the necessity of consistent condom use.

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She also tackled the potential side effects of contraceptives, such as increased appetite and breakthrough bleeding, assuring attendees that the clinic is equipped to assist with managing these effects.

In addition to contraceptive education, she outlined critical preventative measures against HIV, including pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis for those who may have been exposed to the virus.
Maluleka stressed that it is vital to practice safe methods and seek help when necessary, cautioning against a reliance on post-exposure options as a primary strategy.

“We do offer post-exposure prophylaxis. If someone has been raped or someone has experienced sexual intercourse without the use of a condom, you can come to the facility within 72 hours, where you can get what we call a post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent you from contracting HIV. But you shouldn’t always engage in sexual intercourse and rely on post-exposure to prevent you from getting HIV, because we don’t recommend such things.”

Maluleka concluded that while some teenagers may choose to engage in sexual activity, the clinic stands ready to provide essential information and support. However, abstinence remains the most effective and recommended choice for the youth

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