Closing the Child Protection Week In KwaZulu-Natal

By Dr Stanley Maphosa

The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) is presenting a message of support  as part of the closing ceremony for the 2022 Child Protection Week (CPW) that is being held on the 05 June 2022 in King Cetshwayo District Kwa-Zulu Natal, under the theme “Let us All Protect children during COVID-19 and Beyond. The closing ceremony is held in Nhlabane, a rural community outside Richard’s Bay. The focus of Child Protection Week this year from the government point of view was targeting provinces and district with the highest number of children who were pregnant. The official opening ceremony for this campaign week was held in in OR Tambo District, Ingquza Hill, Lusikisiki Eastern Cape on the 29 May 2022. Prior to the opening and closing ceremony, roundtable discussions were held at the OR Tambo District and Zululand District to assess level of interventions and programmes that are currently being provided by various stakeholders who are both government and non-government organisations to address teenage pregnancy.

The Statistics South Africa report, recorded that 34 587 teenagers gave birth in 2020. This is a cause for concern for the Fund, its partners and likeminded organisations in South Africa. This requires a concerted effort by all key stakeholders in government and non-government sector including children, parents, caregivers, families and community at large to address the issues of teenage pregnancies. The unacceptably high levels of teenage pregnancy in South Africa manifests as the infringement on the rights of the girl child as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and other legislations, policies and guidelines. In addition to that, teenage pregnancies pose health risks for the mothers, their babies, their families as well as the communities. Teenage mothers are more susceptible to medical, social and emotional problems, in comparison to their adult mothers counterparts. The high rates of teen pregnancy also affect the communities and society's welfare as they increase the rate of school dropout, decrease graduation rates, and increase unemployment rate. The prevention programmes addressing the problem of teenage pregnancies would most amongst others, contribute to promotion and protection of the rights of the girl child, ensuring gender equity, reduce school dropout and curb the poverty cycle. 

During the Child Protection Week commemoration the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund joined the National Department of Social Development and the Provincial Department of Social Development in Kwa Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape, the University of Zululand, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Implementing Partners in the entire nine province and other strategic partners.