Deputy Chair, I thought that this statement would be read by one of our male comrades or members, because they are talking too much about the termination of pregnancy and are also talking about us as women; but they have refused.
Hon Deputy Chair, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. The objectives of this amending Bill are the following: To allow midwives as registered nurses who have undergone the prescribed training to perform terminations of pregnancy, since prior to the promulgation of the Bill registered nurses were not allowed to perform terminations; to do away with the designation by the Minister on facilities where terminations of pregnancy may take place, which is the lengthy process; to empower the Member of the Executive Council of the province responsible for health in that province to approve those facilities; to allow all public and private facilities that have a 24- four-hour maternity service to terminate pregnancies of up to and including 12 weeks without seeking the approval of the Member of the Executive Council concerned; and to empower the Member of the Executive Council concerned to prescribe by regulation the requirements and conditions applicable to facilities where termination of pregnancy may take place.
For the purpose of consistency, the Minister must: Approve the regulations before they are implemented; require the Member of the Executive Council concerned to report annually on the number of facilities approved by him or her; and require the relevant heads of the provincial departments to submit certain prescribed information to the Director-General of Health and make it an offence for any person to terminate a pregnancy unlawfully or allow termination of pregnancy at a facility which has not been approved.
This will impact on the lives of women in South Africa, because some women have resorted to using backyard facilities to terminate unwanted pregnancies. In some instances, these facilities have caused the death of some women. No adequate statistics are available in this regard, yet it is estimated that prior to the promulgation of the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act, many women lost their lives in this way. This amending Bill provides access to safe facilities of termination.
The amending Bill promises quality health care provisions to women who choose to terminate their pregnancies from the beginning to the end of the health service provision continuum. By so doing, it upholds the right of citizens, including women, to quality health care. Women are now guaranteed clinical observation following a termination of pregnancy. The Bill further ensures that women have the right to decide whether or not to have children, as this right is fundamental to their physical and psychological wellbeing.
To conclude, the changes made to the principal Act through the introduction of the amending Bill meet the objectives intended. On the whole, it upholds the constitutional right of all citizens, including women, to quality health care. It certainly ensures women's best health care services by well- trained medical practitioners, institutions and facilities officially recognised to meet the stringent requirements of law to perform a termination of pregnancy. Thank you. Debate concluded.