For pregnant women living far away from birthing facilities might put the life of the mother and that of the baby at risk. But the North West province is turning the tide against pregnancy related risk.
Ms. Pertunia Mahlamo (34) from Sefikile village, 70 kilometres outside Rustenburg is one of many women in the province who are confident about safe child birth. Two weeks prior to delivery, Mohlamo will be admitted at a maternity waiting home situated within a hospital or a community health centre.
Maternity waiting homes cater for pregnant women with complications or those that are far from health care facilities so that once labour starts the women can be transferred to a maternity ward so skilled midwives can help deliver and be able to manage risk that might arise after delivery.
The Department of Health has establishment 16 maternity waiting homes across the province to curb the unfortunate maternal mortality rate. The idea of maternity waiting was a direct response to the daunting challenge of reducing maternal mortality.
The department has begun to use the primary healthcare approach to provide early and quality antenatal and postnatal services as well as essential infant and child health services and nutritional advice. Ms Mahlamo visits Swartklip Clinic regularly for antenatal services.
“I feel very happy. The well being of pregnant women and unborn children is being taken care off with these initiatives,” she said.
Because HIV poses challenges in pregnancy, health worker initiated counselling and testing will form part of all antenatal care, Health MEC Dr Magome Masike said.
‘This is geared to find problems early in the pregnancy. The referral system for pregnant women, new-borns and children with high risk conditions are reviewed constantly and strengthened to eliminate delays,” MEC Masike said
MEC Masike recently unveiled 10 obstetric ambulances to exclusively transport pregnant women. These ambulances will help improve access to skilled birth attendants, and to reduce ambulance turn-around time. The obstetric ambulances will also help reduce maternal and child mortality caused by lack of or transport delay.
The department has made some progress in reducing maternal deaths. Maternal mortality rate has been reduced from 229 per 100 000 live births in 2008 to 145/100 000 live births in 2011. The province had also seen a decrease in the Infant Mortality Rate from 40 deaths per 1 000 live births in 2009, to 30 deaths per 1 000 live births in the same reporting period.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Provincial Health spokesperson
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
