More than 11 000 babies could be saved from dying prematurely in Gauteng, if government strengthens its Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission programme, retain medical interns as well as train staff on pregnancy management.
Also to bring about this reduction, post-natal care, constant health messages, procuring equipment at facilities and general clinical skills improvement was also recommended.
These were some of the recommendations at the Provincial Health Consultative Forum hosted by the Health and Social development MEC Qedani Mahlangu at Turffontein today (Thursday, 30 September 2010).
The forum which is attended by stakeholders in the health sector including Health and Social Development Portfolio Committee, labour organisations, members of hospital boards and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) aims to engage all those involved in the health sector about measures that can be taken to improve the delivery of public health services in the province.
Among the topics that were discussed is reducing neonatal and maternal mortality, HIV Counseling and Testing Campaign and ARV rollout plan as well as strengthening primary healthcare.
Reducing maternal and neonatal deaths is one of the priorities of the department. Last year, 192 618 children were born in Gauteng’s public health facilities and out of this, 4 202 were still births while 1 973 were neonatal deaths.
Addressing about five hundred delegates attending the forum, MEC Mahlangu, said the department would ensure that all recommendations made would be implemented to help government achieve its priorities.
“This forum has not only afforded us as government an opportunity to interact with various stakeholders, but it has also provide a platform to obtain innovative ways of improving health delivery to the people of the Gauteng, and we are committed to ensuring that this gathering is not just a talk shop,” she said.
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