2016 Benefits Renewal Presentation Update
This content provides details on the 2016 benefits renewal presentation to the Special Administrative Board, including renewal recommendations, proposed changes in premiums, and scenarios for district responsibility. It covers medical, pharmacy, dental, wellness programs, and more.
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Presentation Transcript
Unmuting & Amplifying Echoes of AGYW Background Lesotho s cases of maternal mortality and neonatal mortality rates have risen and it is said to be the highest in the SADC region. The UNFPA flagship report in Lesotho through data obtained from one hospital covering 2019, 2020, 2022 reveals that the percentage of obstetric and gynecological admissions due to abortion were highest among adolescent girls aged 10 -14 at 35.71%. Women aged between 25 -49 also rank high at 15.53 % followed by those aged between 20 -24 at 10.06 %. The Berea district came out to be the highest in number of obstetric and gynecological admissions due to abortion during the first quarter of the three years at 184 in 2020 followed by Maseru at 130 during the same year. Our observation drew to the fact that this is because of the stereotype of culture, religion and societal norms which sometimes lead to conversations between parents and children about SRHR issues to being considered a taboo. This is a topic deemed a taboo and not talked as the communities consider it unholy and associate it with abominable behavior therefore it should not even be in any topics for discussion. Due to this societal backlash, there is not any political will to enact laws of abortion by policy makers as they are in dire need to be voted back in power These stereotypes act as barriers towards legalization of abortion which is considered a contributing factor to the rising statistics of the aforementioned mortalities. They also act as barriers towards reduction of GBV, stigma and discrimination towards contraceptives and Gender issues (LGBTQI) and SRHR issues in general .
Challenges 1. Some community leaders were less / not interactive at all at inception meeting we hosted to introduce the project and try establish their community level issues. This led to us deciding to drop their communities as part of our projects implementation as they expressed that the safeabortion topic could not be discussed in their communities. 2. Some faith leaders have shown skepticism in the act claiming it to be taking away the spirit of humanity and demeaning submissive behaviours expected of women. 3. The department of Gender & Lesotho Police, which were our most relevant stakeholders at times could not offer support due to lack of resources. 4. We also learned sadly that was a lot of Conscientious objector by the very health service providers.
Unmuting & Amplifying Echoes of AGYW Successes 1. Some community leaders supported the motion on Decriminilisation of safe abortion so much that they allowed te topic be discussed in their communities. 2. The department of Gender & Lesotho Police, which were our most supportive stakeholders, and they tried to offer support to their best abilities. 3. We presented 1 abortion related case in the parliament social cluster which led to us being invited to be part of the on-going SADC Parliamentary Forum s SRHR project as part of the Technical Working Group. 4. Managed to get a court order to help a young girl, 16 years, get safe abortion services , story to be related
Unmuting & Amplifying Echoes of AGYW 1. Provision of psychosocial support (PSS) : A 16 year old girl was referred to us by her aunt who suspected that the granddad (aunties father) was raping, and yes indeed it was so. The girl lived with the granddad because her biological mother passed on when she was 3 months old, and the father works in S.A. We then rescued her away from the home to the Department of Gender s emergency shelter, while she was receiving PSS and prosecution is on-going. During her duration at the center she got impregnated by a security guard. 2. 3.
Unmuting & Amplifying Echoes of AGYW 1. Survivor centered approach : Upon finding out of the pregnancy we approached Police s Child and Gender Protection Unit (CGPU) to support our request for the pregnancy to be terminated. 2. Our reasons for the request was based on the analysis that our PSS team made while offering the young girl PSS. This pregnancy was a clear case of Trauma Bond 3. Trauma bonding is when a deep attachment develops from a cycle of physical and/or emotional abuse. Trauma bonds most commonly develop in romantic relationships, and leaving these relationships can be very hard 4. CGPU denied the request, stating that the only time safe abortion would have been permitted would have been if that pregnancy was due to the rape by the granddad. Another issue was that the young girl said she consented to the deed.
Unmuting & Amplifying Echoes of AGYW 1. Breaking Barriers: We pursued seeking assistance, as we saw it fit to. We then approached courts of law with this case, stating all facts and eventually were issued a court order permitting the termination of the pregnancy, though it came very late i.e. the pregnancy was almost over 1st trimester. We can happily report that the termination was carried out successfully. 2. We are currently assisting her to get a social grant from Social Development. Worth mentioning that our PSS goes beyond counselling but rather making sure a survivor sustains the aftermath of the GBV experienced. 3. Another barrier broken worth mentioning: This young girl did not have a birth certificate or any identification document. It was therefore an issue with social development to give her the social grant, but even here we approached courts of laws to issue a directive that she be issued ID documents, which also was a success.
