MEC of Health commemorates International Women’s Day in Mitchells Plain

Today, the Western Cape Minister of Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo hosted young women and girls from across the Cape Flats in Mitchells Plain to commemorate International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day is commemorated every year on 8 March to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women - while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender balance.

This year Minister Mbombo commemorated young women and girls who were participants in the Young Women and Girls Project launched in 2016 supported by the Global Fund.

The project goes beyond the health sector by addressing the drivers that increase young women's risk of abuse, dependency on abusers as well the risks of contracting HIV.

The theme for this year is #BalanceforBetter, which calls for collective action and shared responsibility to drive a gender-balanced society.

With the Young Women and Girls project we have been able to work together through partnerships to reach close to 60 000 participants since the inception of the project, and we have empowered many young women to take a stand against gender based violence.

We have successfully rolled out the Women of Worth with a unique cash and care programme targeting 19-24 year old females. We’ve empowerment close to 200 19-24 year old females who are a part of our Rise programme and we are proud of the work done in health facilities to create youth friendly spaces through our Adolescent and Youth Friendly Services programme

“This theme encourages us in government to continue to work hard to make a difference in the lives of many young women. We have reached out to many vulnerable young women to give them an opportunity to reach their full potential” said Minister Mbombo

We are instilling confidence in women, and we are empowering them to stand tall. Under the #BalanceforBetter theme, we are advocating for balance in the work place, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, and we are calling for balance in sports coverage. Gender balance is an essential part of communities, and ultimately contributes to a thriving economy.