Cape Town - The City of Cape Town’s Directorate for Community Services and Health calls on women across the city to prioritise their health this Women’s Month.
In a recent statement, the Department reiterated various offerings offered by its local healthcare clinics to support women’s health.
According to the local municipality, key indicators for the last financial year revealed that fewer women accessed family planning services and Basic Antenatal Care (BANC), despite the number of women who signed up for cervical smears among other healthcare services having a marginal increase.
The City’s Mayco member for Community Services and Health Patricia Van der Ross said: “Without knowing the reasons behind the decline, it is difficult to gauge exactly how concerned we need to be. I am however enthused by the number of women having cervical smears, but there is room for improvement.
“Some health services and concerns are far more visible and talked about than others, but City Health has a wide range of services specifically for women. I want to encourage them to exploit everything available to them,” Van der Ross said.
More figures from the City showcased that in the 2023/24 financial year approximately 329 975 women accessed various family planning methods, down from 343 440 the previous year.
“The number of women enrolling for BANC decreased from 21034 to 20702, while new cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) declined from 22 988 to 20 443 and cervical smears increased from 28 621 to 29 057.”
“Women often put themselves and their needs last, behind those of their families. I want to remind them that taking care of their health is the best thing they can do for themselves, and their loved ones,” Van der Ross said.
Among its notable health services, the City also has a Matrix® Programme that provides free alcohol and drug treatment services. The initiative also hosts specific group sessions for women and includes topics such as trauma, parenting, self-image and sexuality.
The Matrix® sites also offer the Women’s Health Coop programme that addresses issues such as gender-based violence, substance use and HIV information.
“There is also more to a family planning visit as it can include being screened for breast cancer. Pregnant women can book visits for Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) as soon as they know they are expecting. BANC is an integral part of primary health care and includes identifying potential risk factors and complications, the appropriate management of these, and general health and wellness education,” Van der Ross said.