Soweto, 9 Dec 1999
It is a great moment for us all today to be gathered together here in Soweto, for this occasion. It is befitting that we should be here in Chiawelo for this event.
Thank you for the invitation to honour the health workers who are dedicated to the improvement of women's health. It is also particularly important to acknowledge them, as this is probably the most controversial change that has taken place, and its impact is still going to be felt in the many rooms of our society - in the bedrooms, obviously, in the boardrooms, in the classrooms, in the halls of religion, and in our workplaces.
The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996 was the result of the deaths of many women in South Africa, as a result of back-street abortions. The Act is also the result of the many tears of relatives and children who have been bereft or robbed of their loved ones.
It is a result of the many who are silently mourning the termination of their pregnancies without much social and professional support in the decision for their pregnancies.
After much deliberations and consultations, the Act was born.
An act without impact is useless at best and positively dangerous at worst. This is the reason for this event today - to celebrate the brave and empathetic workers who have taken up the challenge, and provide the required services after the appropriate training.
Many women still face many challenges today. I hope and work and pray for the day when women do not have to have termination of pregnancy any more. That day will come when we are all caring;
Many people have contributed to the start of the training of midwives in performing pregnancy termination. I want to acknowledge those that have facilitated this training, starting with the Nursing Council that provided the framework for this, and the organisations that have lobbied for the curriculum, DENOSA, IPAS, and the Reproductive Rights Alliance.
I want to say "Thank you very much".
I also want to thank those who have financially supported this programme. I thank Kaiser Family Foundation, the World Health Organisation, and the British Department for International Development.
Of course, I shall be quite unfair and not true to myself if I did not thank the Reproductive Health Research Unit for the work that they have done in making it possible for the training to take place, and taking the process further. The work today is to appreciate what has been achieved thus far, and the promise of greater things to come.
To you who have taken on the challenge, I salute you. It has taken a lot of value clarification.
Looking at the need of women, who have been abandoned, who have been abused, and discarded.
Not discarded only by the perpetrators of the ghastly deeds, But by their communities, by their families, and often by their religious homes and refuge.
You have lived out your conviction about human rights, you have practised "ubuntu." Many of you have braved being labelled in the institutions of health, within communities. You have continued being committed to look beyond your own comforts. To provide some relief for those who are crying, suffering, and despairing.
The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act provides women an alternative, and an alternative to disease and death. A relief from anguish and internal pain.
Many have undergone training in Pregnancy Termination, but not all are still practising, because of pressure from colleagues and from other quarters.
But you have persevered. Thank you.
Some people have responded positively to the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy by providing alternatives to termination of pregnancy. Some religious organisations provide counselling, some provide adoption services, while others still provide skills for women, to earn a living and thus provide for themselves and their children. in other words, people have been challenged to be more caring.
We need more people like you. We need to train more, and encourage more to continue this intervention to those who require it. We need to extend the service to many rural areas where some women still die from septic abortions. We need to improve the care of those that have had septic abortions - whether spontaneous or induced.
There is no woman who enjoys having a premature pregnancy termination; Any woman who will allow anyone to interfere with her innermost part has to be desperate!! We have to speed up contraceptive service reform. We must challenge the notion of supporting one another; Of caring for children who are poor; Of caring for the homeless, and those who are orphans.
In this age where over 1500 new HIV infections take place every day, many of the clients who come for termination of pregnancy advice are HIV positive.
The challenge is to provide them with the service as humanely as possible, but provide counselling with regard to their HIV status and prevent future unplanned and unwanted pregnancy.
The recent Maternal Mortality Report revealed that many women still die from septic abortion.
We need to stop this. We must reach the rural areas with this programme. I am sure with dedicated people like you, we shall.
Together we can make a difference.
As we step into the new Millennium, we are faced with all the challenges of the modern age. While struggling to provide old solutions to age old problems and challenges.
Keep up the good work.
Again, Congratulations. Go out and serve.
Thank you
Issued by: Ministry of Health