Tlokweng grapples with alarming teen pregnancy rates

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday June 5, 2025 12:11

Addressing full council meeting Monday, she highlighted that the situation has become increasingly alarming. She revealed that nine out of the 296 individuals registered for antenatal care in the recent quarter were teenagers. This troubling trend, Bogatsu emphasised, calls for urgent attention and coordinated intervention.

“Also non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain high, accounting for 6,991 outpatient visits, with hypertension and diabetes type II being the most prevalent. Notably, men represented the majority of NCDs patients.

“Despite all the challenges, the district continues to record significant successes in some key service areas such as the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme which has maintained a zero percent transmission rate,” he said.

However, the chairperson added another critical challenge is the availability of medicines and medical supplies.

Furthermore, Bogatsu said essential drug availability has dropped alarmingly to 57%, far below the national target of 97%.

She emphasised that the lack of a dedicated drug storage facility contributes to poor stock management and increases the likelihood of stock-outs and treatment interruptions, particularly in essential programmes such as HIV, TB, and chronic disease management.

Still, on issues of health, Bogatsu said they experienced the transition of primary healthcare services from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs under the Tlokweng District Council, on April 1, 2025.

“It represented a significant step towards decentralisation agenda, bringing healthcare services closer to our communities and allowing for more responsive and locally informed health governance. However, whilst the transition is still ongoing, we observe many structural and operational issues,” she said.

“One of the most urgent challenges facing the district is the critical shortage of human resources, healthcare facilities, shortage of staff houses, shortage of transport and emergency vehicles across all Tlokweng primary.”

On the issue of HIV/AIS, she said regrettably, at the beginning of the year, specifically in February, they faced a disruption in their health sector when the United States of America (USA) suddenly and unexpectedly cut off USAID funding to the country.

“This abrupt decision significantly impacted the collaboration between civil society organisations and the health sector, particularly in the distribution of condoms and outreach initiatives related to HIV, as well as support for the socioeconomic wellbeing of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), children at risk of HIV, and their families,” she revealed.

Notably, Bogatsu said out of seven non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that were operating in the District, five have closed down.

She said and only two, BORNUS and CEYOHO, are still operating but with minimal resources.

She said in order to close up the gap created by closure of some of the NGOs, various health departments are planning to conduct monthly outreach activities per ward to promote fitness, screening for non-communicable diseases and HIV, and public education on different health issues.