Contraceptive implants available in Zululand

HEALTH Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has launched a new contraceptive device which will, from June, be available to women for free at all state clinics.

The contraceptive device known as Implanon, which is a sub-dermal implant lasting three years, is expected to decrease the number of unwanted and teenage pregnancies and reduce the number of maternal deaths in the country.

The device, which is implanted below the skin of the arm, has been added to the current birth control methods and is already available in all health facilities in Zululand. Local nurses have been trained and have started inserting the device.

It is required that women have to meet the medical eligibility criteria to qualify, due to the hormonal content in the product, and minors of 12-years-old and above do not need parental consent.

‘Implanon is among the most effective methods of family planning. It consists of small flexible rods that are barely visible but can be felt under the skin which require a specifically trained provider to insert and remove,’ said uThungulu Health District- Sexual Reproductive Health Coordinator Ntokozo Lawal.

‘A woman cannot start or stop Implanon on her own as it needs medically qualified officials to insert or remove it.

Implanon provides long term protection from pregnancy and it is effective for three years. It does not affect future fertility which returns immediately after the implant is removed and it does not provide protection against sexually transmitted infections,’ said Lawal.

According to statistics, one million women fall pregnant in South Africa per year and of these, 8% are girls below the age of 18.

‘Minors are giving birth to 80 000 unplanned babies annually. They contribute to 36% of all maternal deaths because they are too young to be pregnant and easily die owing to pregnancy difficulties such as hypertension,’ said Motsoaledi.

The United Nations Population Fund has donated 5 000 of the devices to the department.