A campaign to raise awareness about the importance of reproductive health services to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases is set to take place at Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape.

Friday’s event is part of the Department of Health’s sexual and reproductive health campaign.

“The annual health campaign is also aimed at addressing various health challenges experienced by adolescent girls and young women and their male counterparts in accessing sexual and reproduction health services at health facilities across the country. This is to enable government to make interventions accordingly,” said the Department of Health in a statement.

Health Deputy Minister, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, and his Higher Education and Training counterpart, Buti Manamela, are expected to lead the campaign. They will be joined by Northern Cape Health MEC, Maruping Lekwene; World Health Organization Country Director, Dr Owen Kaluwa; HIGHER HEALTH Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ramneek Ahluwalia, as well as local government leaders from Sol Plaatjie Municipality.

The day will commence with a march to raise awareness about the dangers associated with illegal and unsafe abortions, followed by physical activities to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several cancers.

Source: South African Government News Agency