DG Murray Trust (DGMT) Advocacy Coalition says Maternal Support Grant (MEG) will help poor pregnant women to give birth to healthy babies, while University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) economist Dr Simiso Msomi claims this would have a negative outcome.
An economist has raised a red flag on the proposal to introduce a Maternal Support Grant (MEG) for pregnant women from poor families so that they can afford to eat healthy food and give birth to healthy babies.
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) economist Dr Simiso Msomi believes the MEG would have unintended consequences, encouraging women, including teenagers from poor families, to fall pregnant just to earn this monthly grant.
The debate has been sparked by the DG Murray Trust (DGMT) Advocacy Coalition, which represents 15 NGOs and research bodies.
The coalition believes that the MEG should have an annual budget of approximately R2 billion to support around 800,000 women who get pregnant every year, with R855 per month.
