Western Cape Health celebrates centenary of Mowbray Maternity Hospital

Arranged by the hospital’s Health Facility Board, the occasion provided the opportunity to pay tribute to the history and heritage of the remarkable facility and acknowledge the enormous contribution it makes to maternal services offered to mothers and their new-born infants in the Western Cape. 

 

Speaking at the function, Western Cape Minister of Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo commended the facility for unceasingly providing quality maternal services to the residents of the province throughout the years. “It is a key priority for the Western Cape Government Health to continuously deliver quality maternal and infant health care. Our flagship, Mowbray Maternity Hospital, has greatly assisted the Department in achieving and maintaining this objective – we take this time to thank you for your sacrifices and dedication.

 

According to Dr Malikah Van Der Schyff, Chairperson of the Health Facility Board of Mowbray Maternity Hospital, the specialist offering of maternal and neonatal service has contributed to the success of the hospital. “Over the 100 years of Mowbray Maternity Hospital’s existence, it has been able to refine and continuously develop its core competencies to effectively benefit a growing and disadvantaged community. This dedicated approach has played a pivotal role in the success of the institution and assisted in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity – a global priority for both private and public health facilities,” says Van Der Schyff.

 

Echoing these sentiments, Janine Joemat, Chief Executive Officer of Mowbray Maternity Hospital says that although the facility operates under immense service pressures, especially given the rise in the need for specialised services for pregnant females, it has continued to serve the community by providing quality healthcare.

 

Joemat highlights that the unique legacy of Mowbray Maternity Hospital is thanks to the dedicated and committed staff. “Peninsula Maternity Hospital (PMH) closed its doors on the 12 of January 1992, after serving the community of District Six for more than 70 years. The facility amalgamated with Mowbray Maternity Hospital on 13 January 1992.

 

“This meant that many of the staff from PMH joined the personnel of Mowbray Maternity Hospital. Together with the common goal of providing quality maternal care to all, staff members have played a pivotal role in establishing a ‘family orientated’ culture at the facility. Over the years, this unique aspect has never worn and proven to be the cornerstone of Mowbray’s success,” says Joemat.

 

Currently, the facility has 132 obstetric beds and 73 neonatal beds. Apart from the local primary service drainage areas, the facility also provides obstetric and neonatal clinical support to five Midwife Obstetric Units (MOU); namely False Bay, Guguletu, Hanover Park, Mitchells Plain and Retreat.

 

“With a staff compliment of 361, Mowbray Maternity Hospital’s workload has increased from 4 500 deliveries per year in 1993 to over 10 000 deliveries annually in recent years. Simultaneously, more women with complicated pregnancies and other health conditions, such as hypertension, Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS are referred to the facility. Regardless of the added pressures and limited resources the facility has effectively managed to meet the additional service pressures without lowering standards and still maintaining good outcome indicators,” says Joemat.

 

In 2007, Mowbray Maternity received recognition for outstanding performance in the field of healthcare by winning the "Premier's Service Excellence Award" for service delivery in the Western Cape. Other successes include being the first hospital in the world to deliver sextuplets [Rosenkowitz] who survived infancy.

 

The facility has also been at the forefront of implementing the latest initiatives in prenatal, antenatal and postnatal care. This includes being accredited as a ‘Mother - Baby Friendly Initiative’ (MBFI) hospital in 2003.

 

Joemat highlights that although infant mortality and morbidity is a key focus for the facility, reduction of maternal deaths are just as important. “The death of a woman who leaves behind a young family has devastating consequences for these survivors, with increased chances of disadvantage, illness and premature death, especially in poorer communities.

 

“Mowbray Maternity Hospital is one of many facilities in South Africa which has progressively implemented new HIV/AIDS treatment policies to assist in the reduction of maternal and infant mortality in our country. Our facility has a strong focus on patient-centred maternity care and has implemented initiatives to ensure that both mother and child receive the best care and treatment at all times,” states Joemat.

 

Van Der Schyff notes that when quality care is the objective it isn’t always easy to deliver a ‘rapid’ service, which often results in long waiting times and frustrated patients. “Public health facilities in the Western Cape are often scrutinised by the public for a number of possible shortcomings, but very few are aware of the various facility boards in establishment to whom constructive feedback can be delivered to resolve specific operational ailments,” she says.

 

“Health Facility Boards have been established in order to ensure that management of all public health facilities are accountable to, and have the support of, their communities and manage their resources responsibly and effectively.

 

“The Health Facility Board continuously strives to ensure optimal corporate and clinical governance, fundraising, community involvement, and formulate strategies and policies to assist the management of the facility. We encourage the community to partner with our Health Facility Board and make a difference in the lives of those who need it – our future generations,” concludes Van Der Schyff.

 

Media enquiries:

Luyanda Mfeka

Cell: 079 546 9518

Tel: 021 483 5862

Email: luyanda.mfeka@westerncape.gov.za