Cost of a Health Team
There are those who consider putting rands and cents against human lives is distasteful. Sapler does not think so, when considering the use of scarce resources in the national context.
It could cost a mere R50 per year to provide a schoolgirl with 100% reliable contraception. It is not being done - more than half of South African teenage girls have a baby.
An illustration of
the cost of a reproductive health team
serving the middle and high schools of
two adjoining education districts
| Contraceptive numbers | ||
Middle and high schools |
40 |
|
Pupils per school |
1000 |
|
Girls per school |
500 |
|
Contraceptive rate |
65% |
|
Number of girls requiring contraception |
13000 |
|
| Contraceptive Costs R's | ||
Contraceptive injection |
8 |
|
Annual individual contraception |
50 |
|
| % of total | ||
| Contraceptive Costs R 000's | ||
Total cost of contraception injection |
650 |
55% |
Other reproductive health materials |
130 |
11% |
Total |
780 |
65% |
| Staffing R 000's | ||
2 professional nurses |
120 |
10% |
12 community health workers |
120 |
10% |
1 administrator |
12 |
1% |
Total |
252 |
21% |
| Operating Costs R 000's | ||
2 vehicles |
120 |
10% |
Health point maintenance |
20 |
2% |
Administration |
20 |
2% |
Total |
160 |
13% |
| Grand Total R 000's | 1192 |
100% |
| Total cost per school R 000's | 30 |
3% |