The Department of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are commemorating World Health Day with a focus on maternal and newborn health.
This annual event, marking the anniversary of WHO’s founding in 1948, aims to raise awareness about critical health issues and promote health equity globally.
This year’s theme, “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures”, launches a year-long campaign dedicated to improving the health and well-being of mothers and their newborns.
The campaign calls for intensified efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, stillbirths and to prioritise women’s long-term health and well-being.
Globally, approximately 300 000 women die annually due to pregnancy or childbirth, while over two million babies die within their first month of life, and around two million more are stillborn.
“That’s roughly one preventable death every seven seconds,“ the department said in a statement.
These statistics, the department said, highlight the urgent need for action, as four out of five countries are not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for maternal survival by 2030, and one in three will fail to meet targets for reducing newborn deaths.
The department said South Africa has made significant progress in reducing maternal and child deaths, with the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declining from 170 to 200 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2000 to 109.6 in 2022.
However, further efforts are needed to achieve the SDG target of less than 70 deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030.
The neonatal mortality rate stands at approximately 11 deaths per 1 000 live births, aligning with the SDG target, but recent progress has been slow.
The campaign aims to raise awareness about gaps in maternal and newborn survival, advocate for effective investments, encourage collective action to support parents and health professionals, and provide useful health information related to pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.
In South Africa, health services for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children under five are provided free of charge.
Access to essential maternal and child health services continues to increase, supported by comprehensive guidelines and initiatives like MomConnect and the Side-by-Side campaign.
MomConnect uses mobile technology to deliver free maternal health messaging to over five million mothers, while Side-by-Side reaches 3.7 million listeners weekly through radio shows in all official languages.
Despite these efforts, the department believes more work is needed to ensure every mother and newborn has access to services, improve nutrition outcomes for children, provide comprehensive mental health services for mothers, and address adolescent health needs.
WHO Representative to South Africa, Shenaaz El-Halabi, emphasised the moral imperative of ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and newborns.
She reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting South Africa’s progress and strengthening health systems to achieve the SDG targets.
“WHO remains a steadfast partner to the government in strengthening health systems, improving quality of maternal and newborn care, and accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
To mark World Health Day, WHO will host a webinar titled “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures: Global action for women and newborns”, highlighting global progress, partnerships, advocacy for increased funding, and promoting gender equity and health rights.
“The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of healthy families and communities, helping ensure hopeful futures for us all. The delivery of a comprehensive package of care and support for mothers, newborns, and their families depends on the collaborative efforts of a wide range of stakeholders in both government and civil society.”
The department and the WHO are calling on all role players – communities, health and other care workers, policymakers, researchers, and educators – to work together so that we can ensure that all mothers and young children both survive and thrive. – SAnews.gov.za
