People remember how you treat them, not what you do – a lesson for government clinic nurses, where kindness can be the best medicine.

 Despite the progress made in reproductive healthcare, including the increase in public facilities offering abortion services, South Africa still grapples with a significant illegal sector.  One in four women resort to unsafe abortions, putting women’s lives at risk.

Further, one in four aged 15-49 across all nine provinces faces unmet contraceptive needs, highlighting a critical gap in access to essential services.

These and other issues around reproductive health were on the agenda at ‘The Story of all Women’, a Women’s Month event hosted by Wits University’s SRC President, Bukisa Boniswa on August 2. Talking through the secrecy and stigma was at the heart of the discussion.

The event brought together a diverse panel of experts, including Khanyisa Booi, founder of Eve Apple Magazine, Dr.Mpume Zende, an OB-Gynae-Sexologist, Ennie Makhafola, women’s health activist, and Dr.Busisiwe Nkala-Dlamini, a senior lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand Department of social work.

Booi asked the audience about their experiences seeking contraception at public clinics. Almost half of the room raised their hands, sharing a collective nod of familiarity and discomfort, as they recounted stories of feeling judged by nurses.

Dr. Zende shared her experiences at Baragwanath Hospital, where women face belittling and neglect from nurses. In contrast to private hospitals, government clinics often lack effective contraceptives, leaving women with limited options and severe side effects, highlighting a stark disparity in care.

While Dr.Nkala reminded the audience of the history of access. During Apartheid young black women did not have the right to terminate pregnancies, until The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996 was passed.  She also noted that in many African homes, conversations about reproductive health are uncomfortable or sugarcoated, leading to confusion and ignorance.

The evening underscored the need for greater access and safe spaces where women can seek help without judgment. In the scenario where women find themselves uncomfortable to speak to nurses at their local clinics, they can call confidential hotlines and helplines for reproductive health and rights information such as Marie Stopes South Africa’s 24-hour helpline (0800 11 77 85) or the National Department of Health’s Reproductive Health Helpline (0800 601 700).

Nurses and healthcare providers must be trained to provide compassionate and non-judgmental healthcare. Additionally, access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including contraception and termination services, must be prioritised.