Willowvale Community Health Centre became the latest health facility to have a fully operational Adolescent and Youth Friendly Services (AYFS) facility, following its official launch, overseen by Deputy Health Minister, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, and Eastern Cape Health MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth, on June 15.
The AFYS, otherwise known as Youth Zones, are youth dedicated facilities meant to create conducive environments in health facilities for young people to access services and openly interact with healthcare providers without feeling judged.
The roll-out of the Youth Zones in health facilities is informed by the national Department of Health youth policy, which recommended the establishment of these zones in health facilities as part of efforts to standardise the quality of adolescent health services in the country and accelerate access to health services, especially reproductive health services, by young people.
“Through these Youth Zones, we are trying to create an enabling environment at our clinics and hospitals for our young people to access services without the fear of judgement and stigma. Out of 4 000 plus health facilities across the country, we have so far launched 1 219 of these Youth Zones and 402 of those already launched are in the Eastern Cape health facilities,” said Department of Health spokesperson, Foster Mohale.
Mohale further said several factors were considered when deciding on the priority of healthcare facilities to establish these Youth Zones.
“There are a number of factors we consider but we rely mostly on data such as HIV infection rate in young people in a particular district, as well as the high rate of teenage pregnancy, but our ultimate goal is to have a Youth Zone in every healthcare facility across the country,” Mohale said.
He added that the department hoped the roll-out of these Youth Zones would further discourage young women from resorting to so-called backstreet abortions, as these youth-friendly facilities are able to refer those who wish to terminate their pregnancies to government facilities where safe, legal, and free abortions are performed.
“As the Eastern Cape Department of Health, we are happy that when we commemorate the struggle of the youth of 1976, we are able play our part for the youth of today by launching the Youth Zone where young people will have their own space to discuss their healthcare issues comfortably,” said Eastern Cape Health MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth.
The Youth Zones are also meant to play a role in meeting the practical and psychological needs of young people by including operating times that are dedicated and suitable for the youth.
