advertisement
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Reddit

A new contraceptive device to hit SA public hospitals next week

As of February 27th, women across South Africa will have free access to an under-the-skin contraceptive device, minister of health, Aaron Motsoaledi, announced at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate in Parliament yesterday.

The new sub-dermal implant, about the size of a match stick, will be inserted under a patient’s upper arm skin by a medical professional and will act as a contraceptive for a period of up to three years if it remains in the patient’s arm.

Should a patient wish to conceive, they will be able to have the the sub-dermal implant removed by a medical professional and conceive within weeks. This “gives women freedom to control their own lives”, minister Motsoaledi said.

“This is the biggest family planning programme South Africa has ever seen,” the minister said. “The device costs R1700 if you go to a private doctor. But, we shall give it free of charge to every woman in South Africa, regardless of their socio-economic status,” he added.

A number of professional nurses have already been given training on inserting the sub-dermal implant into patients, with thousands more scheduled to undergo the same training soon.

The sub-dermal implant will be available in all public hospitals by February 27th and will reach all public clinics by the middle of this year.

[Image: Shutterstock]

advertisement

About Author

advertisement

Related News

advertisement