The Ekurhuleni Metro, in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) recently held a Mother and Child Dialogue at the Vosloorus Civic Centre, where this key message was communicated.
“We have noticed a growing trend of maternal and child mortality in Ekurhuleni and this indicated to us that there is a need to raise awareness and start the dialogue about maternal death in our communities,” said the director for maternal health at the GDoH, Sikhonjiwe Masilele.
Causes of maternal death including HIV and AIDS, excessive bleeding and poor nutrition were discussed in the dialogue.
To ensure early detection of diseases and deficiencies, health practitioners emphasised the importance of commencing antenatal care before 14 weeks of pregnancy and preferably after missing one menstrual cycle.
Those who attended the dialogue were given an opportunity to submit their recommendations on how to decrease the mother and child mortality rate. These recommendations will be scrutinised and those that are viable will be implemented.
In making it evident that improving maternal and child health is one of the City’s priorities, 36 903 pregnant women have been registered on the MomConnect system. This is a system where pregnant women are sent a sms reminding them of their next antenatal appointment and tips on how to care for both themselves and their unborn child.
Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Social Development, Clr Makhosazana Mabaso, encouraged residents to know their HIV status in order to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
By doing so, she explained, they will contribute towards eliminating new HIV infections.
