Cape Town - Public Health Medicine Specialist for the Western Cape Government’s Department of Health and Wellness in the Klipfontein and Mitchell’s Plain areas, Dr Masudah Paleker, has been named this year’s recipient of the prestigious Innovation Convention Award.
Paleker and her team were recognised for their multisectoral approach to reducing adolescent pregnancies, a groundbreaking initiative that brings together healthcare providers, educators and community organisations to directly support adolescents.
The approach addresses a critical public health issue, particularly in light that nearly 120000 girls aged 15-19 in South Africa became mothers between April 2023 and March 2024.
Paleker’s programme provides comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services to adolescents, reducing the rate of teenage pregnancies and building resilience within communities.
Through collaboration with multiple sectors, the programme aims to use an area-based approach, implementing an integrated school health programme for sexual and reproductive health services.
By working directly with high-risk schools, the programme creates opportunities to deliver youth-friendly services, foster educational continuity, and reduce the stigma adolescents face when seeking help.
It also prioritises young voices to ensure the solutions are relevant and effective for the communities they serve.
“Winning the provincial Innovation Convention 2024 is an incredible honour and a testament to the power of innovation in addressing critical public health challenges such as adolescent pregnancy,” Paleker said. “Innovation is not just about new ideas; it is about rethinking the way we collaborate, listen and respond to the needs of our communities.
“This recognition affirms that when we take a multisectoral approach, bringing together government, educators, healthcare providers and communities, we can create meaningful change.”
The programme’s success in reducing teenage pregnancies in the Western Cape also offers a model for other regions facing similar challenges.
Within a space of only four months between four high-risk schools in the metro, the programme has seen to 30 adolescents who agreed to regular family planning; 268 adolescents know their HIV status; 268 adolescents screened for TB and STIs (and provided treatment if needed); and pregnant learners were provided with additional support and counselling.
Cape Argus