Joseph Prezioso / AFP
The Eastern Cape Health Department will take delivery of what is said to be the first of its kind "self-care wellness vending machine," which will be installed at a venue in Mthatha.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, and Eastern Cape Health MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth, will lead the launch at Mthatha Ultra City on Wednesday.
"This vending machine is the first of its kind in South Africa. It is part of the ongoing efforts to improve uptake of various methods of contraception in response to the scourge of teenage pregnancy in the country,” said National Health Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale.
“This initiative is targeting girls and women of childbearing to increase access to Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV prevention services and reduce unplanned pregnancies which lead to unsafe abortions,” he said in a statement.
Mohale said these vending machines will carry a variety of oral contraceptives, HIV kits for self-testing as well as male and female condoms, among others.
He said South Africa has witnessed an alarming surge in adolescent pregnancies in the past three years (2020-2023) with more than 11 500 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 years having delivered babies in public health facilities.
Mohale said the vending machines will “be placed at easy-to-access and busy public areas such as institutions of higher learning, mall or shopping centres, SASSA points, etc across the country.”
