ACORNHOEK – A big concern over teenage girls being counted among New Year mothers who were warmly welcomed by political in the province was raised.
Ehlanzeni District Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Terrence Shabangu lamented on this particular issue today on New Year’s Day welcoming of babies born on this day at Matikwana Hospital in Mkhuhlu and Tintswalo Hospital in Acornhoek both situated in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.
This occurrence also surfaced during the Christmas babies welcoming visits at the above named hospitals, whereby, he was also astounded by the dominance of teenage mothers.
Addressing the hospital communities pointed out that educational programmes within communities need to be introduced in order to curb this scourge of teenage pregnancy.
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“The circumstances I witnessed in the youths’ behavioural patterns here in Bushbuckridge is a rather reckless one as they freely embroil themselves in liquor consumption freely and hanging around with their male counterparts, too.
A bright future is what is envisaged by government’s intended action plan to normalise the situation and draw their attention towards focussing themselves educationally in order to have a bright future,” he said.
Meanwhile, premier Mandla Ndlovu expressed satisfaction about the state of the two hospitals he also visited on New Year’s Day during his surprise visit in monitoring both at Mapulaneng and Tintswalo hospitals.
He expressed concern about the dispensaries at the hospitals, that they were not fully functional. He says this requires a special attention. “I will engage with the MEC for Health, Ms. Sasekani Manzini to ensure that this matter of dispensaries is attended to, even on public holidays,” he reiterated.
The premier says he will embark on similar surprise visits to various hospitals across the province as these will help government to improve service delivery to communities.
