18 Mar 2019

 Boseja South Village Development Committee (VDC) has praised government for refurbishing Matshwane Clinic.

The clinic now offered sexual and youth friendly reproductive services. 

VDC treasurer, Mr Tebogo Tsapo, stated in an interview that the clinic had made a positive impact since statistics on social ills cases such as teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse among young people had been escalating.

He noted that young people should utilise services offered at the facility for the betterment of their lives.

Before the youth user friendly facility, he said they recorded a high number of social ills and thus motivated his committee to formulate sub-committees to deal with issues of teenage pregnancy as well as alcohol and drug abuse.

Mr Tsapo explained that committees embarked on awareness campaigns to sensitise the community about repercussions of social ills and also organised events to promote acceptable behaviour.

Currently, he said some youths had volunteered to sit in the committees to continue spreading the ‘gospel’ to their peers.

Mr Tsapo said they were also concerned that some youths were defaulting on their medications particularly ARVs, while some were consuming  alcohol while on treatment.

Currently, he said the statistics had dropped and young people were being encouraged to participate in community activities such as educational and health talks, wellness events, to cite but a few.

Mr Tsapo said they would continue engaging and preaching the message to other stakeholders including drinking holes, because the intent is to stimulate the development of responsible drinking amongst residents and to and make their health a priority.ENDS