11 Aug 2019

Matsiloje clinic has recorded two teenage pregnancy cases involving 16-year-old and a 15-year-old girls.

As a result, the two girls who were  junior secondary school pupils dropped out of the school.

In an interview, the matron of Matsiloje Clinic, Ms Olebogeng Matenenga said the two cases were recorded between January and May, adding that there were suspicions that some cases go unreported.

She said both cases had been handed over to social workers in order to bring the perpetrators to book.

Ms Matenanga said the clinic this month also recorded a teenage pregnancy case involving a 19-year-old.

On other issues, she said the clinic registered a high number of common assault and actual bodily harm cases, resulting from alcohol abuse, which was common amongst the youth.

She revealed that the clinic usually recorded up to three such cases in a month, especially during month end.

Ms Matenanga also raised concern about the high number of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), which she said was an indication  condoms are not fully utilised despite being distributed for free.

Regarding the utilisation of the clinic, she said the Out Patient Department (OPD) is fully utilized and the maternity ward is fully functional with referrals to Nyangabgwe

Referral Hospital for complicated cases.

She said they used to  have tuberculosis (TB) cases, which were suspected to have been caused by cement mines in the area, revealing that since the closure of the mines, the cases have subsided.

Ms Matenanga said the clinic also has a mobile outreach programme to reach patients staying at cattle posts and villages like Matopi.

Services provided through the programme include dispensary of antiretrovirals (ARVs) and other necessary medical services.

Challenges they face, she said include  shortage of staff, as the clinic only operates with three nurses. The other challenge she said was shortage of medicines. ENDS