The Deputy Minister for the Department of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo led a Youth Health Celebration held at Temba Stadium in Hammanskraal today. The event was part of Heritage Day to create health awareness among the youth and to promote the use of youth zones.
Ms Marry Mlangeni, Program Manager for Youth and Integrated School Health Program and Tshwane District Health Service who is responsible for youth health, said the purpose of the day was to make sure that all the 73 youth zones are youth-friendly and are implementing youth zones to give young people priority.
She said the purpose was also to strengthen relations with stakeholders such as Love Life.
“Our aim today is to ensure that youth zones are functional with youth groundbreakers and youth champions who are young nurses who can connect easily with the youth.
Thabiso Mokwena of Love Life said the purpose of the event was to bring health services closer to the youth.
“Youth Zones are what we normally call clinics and we want to encourage youth to take up the services such contraceptives which they can access at youth zones. In conjunction with the Department of Health, Love Life encourages the youth to use the health zones instead of going to the back door to access health services.
“Contraceptives are available at clinics for both boys and girls and we want to promote that the youth feel free to access them,” he said.
Love Life also uses social media to engage the youth and to connect with them for sexual productive education
Young people in distress can contact Love Life at: www.bewisehealth.com or make a call back on 0833231023
Ms Marry Mlangeni can be contacted at Marry.mlangeni@gauteng.gov.za or on the Tshwane District Facebook Page or WhatsApp on 079 8788989