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MPUMALANGA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHBRIEFING TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON WOMEN, CHILDREN AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
05 JANUARY 2014
COMMITTEE ROOM 2,
120 PLEIN STREET CAPE TOWN
Presentation Outline
1. Purpose2. Background 3. Stakeholders 4. Strategies 5. Role of the Department6. Role of the Ingoma Forum7. Responsibility of the initiate8. Responsibility of the Ingoma Holder9. Training of Traditional Surgeons
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Purpose
To brief the Committee on:
Circumcision deaths in the province during the 2013 season
Strategies by the Provincial Department of Health to prevent
further deaths
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Background
2009 has seen an unprecedented incidents of complications presenting at the
Health facilities from Traditional Circumcision Sites.
Such cases from initiation schools needed attention on corrective surgery and
management.
The Department responded by Establishing a team for medical and
surveillance support to the Ingomas.
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Background
In the year 2013:
134 Traditional Leaders were authorised by His Majesty.
57 traditional surgeons were trained by the forum.
30 148 initiates were covered by the Ingoma forum
31 deaths were experienced.
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Stakeholders
MDOH
COGTA
SAPS
General Practitioners
Traditional Leaders
Social Development
Local Municipalities
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Strategies
Strengthening planning prior departure of initiates and
monitoring of the initiation schools
Dedicate more health professionals to upscale support to the
traditional leaders on health related issues
Legislation of the Ingomas to get them regulated.
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Strategies
To mitigate against the loss of life during the initiations focus
should be on the promulgation of the Ingoma Bill.
The main objective of the Bill:
To regulate the holding of the Ingoma
To provide for the prohibition of forced attendance of the
Ingoma
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Objectives of the Ingoma Bill cont..
To provide commodities for the implementation and monitoring
of health and hygienic standards
To prevent unnecessary loss of life that seeks to undermine the
cultural practice.
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Role of the Department
To ensure availability of resources to train traditional
surgeons.
To conduct health screening to all registered initiates and
treat all minor ailments detected prior to traditional
circumcision.
High risk cases will be classified as not fit to undergo traditional
circumcision.
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Role of the Department cont……
To provide necessary commodities for the period (gloves and surgical
blades)
All initiates on Chronic medication will be given enough supply to
cover the initiation period
Health professionals both from the department and private
practitioners who have undergone initiation to be deployed to assist
during Ingoma at all sites
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Role of the Department cont……
EMS services will be on standby to assist in case of
any eventuality.
Tents will be erected on major site for the management of minor
adverse events and assess initiates for quick referral to the hospital.
Ensuring availability of transport for health professional to
support all the Ingoma sites as per the demarcation/clustering.
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Role of the Department
Provision of Forensic Pathology Services.
Development of a data base for all traditional Initiation
Schools.
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Role of the Ingoma Forum
To provide platform for male discussion and dialogue talks
To share ideas relating to male initiation
To harmonize ideas between tribal and health so as to ensure safe initiation
process.
The identification and co-ordination of stakeholders, their roles, needs and
expectations
Ensure that all Ingoma Holders are authorised by the House of Traditional
Leadership
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Responsibility of initiate
The initiate (minor) must obtain a signed consent form from
parent/guardian
Produce the consent form for the general health screening which is
to take place at least two months before initiation begins
(Ukugwaba)
Take treatment as prescribed by a health professional.
Report without any delay any adverse event for management .
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Responsibility of the Ingoma Holder
The person who wants to hold Ingoma must first obtain
approval for such from the king, queen of the traditional
community or the MEC for COGTA
She/he must also obtain approval for the use of the private
land from the owner or the municipality
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CONCLUSION
The Department acknowledges that South Africa is a country that
embraces cultural diversity. The department strives to create an
enabling and conducive environment .
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Thank you
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