Every seven seconds, a preventable maternal or newborn death occurs globally. On World Health Day, South Africa showcases its free maternal healthcare services and digital initiatives that have reached millions, while acknowledging the urgent work still needed to meet international targets.
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As the world marks World Health Day today, April 7, the national Department of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), is shining a spotlight on maternal and newborn health under the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures.”
This year’s commemoration not only celebrates the founding of the WHO in 1948 but also kicks off a year-long campaign urging global action to end preventable deaths of mothers and newborns, while promoting longer-term health and wellbeing for women.
According to the WHO, an estimated 300 000 women die each year from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. At the same time, more than two million babies die within their first month of life, with another two million stillborn - figures that translate to one preventable death every seven seconds.
Progress towards international targets is lagging: four out of five countries are not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of reducing maternal deaths by 2030, while one in three nations may miss the target for cutting newborn mortality.
Although South Africa has made notable strides, its maternal and neonatal death rates remain high for an upper-middle-income country. The maternal mortality ratio has dropped from approximately 200 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2000 to 109.6 in 2022. However, to reach the SDG goal of fewer than 70 deaths per 100 000 by 2030, intensified action is needed. The neonatal mortality rate currently sits at around 11 deaths per 1 000 live births - within the SDG benchmark, but with progress stagnating in recent years.
Ongoing Support and New Interventions
The Department of Health has several initiatives in place to improve access to information and healthcare for expectant mothers and caregivers. Services for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children under five are offered free of charge in public health facilities across the country.
South Africa’s MomConnect programme, launched to deliver free health messages via SMS and WhatsApp to pregnant and new mothers, has already supported over five million women through their maternal journey. Similarly, the Side-by-Side campaign reaches more than 3.7 million radio listeners weekly, offering parenting tips and child development support in all 11 official languages.
In January, the department, supported by WHO, released updated Maternal Health Care Guidelines, ensuring that health workers have access to the latest evidence-based practices.
However, challenges remain. Greater focus is needed on improving childhood nutrition - particularly reducing stunting - expanding mental health services for mothers, and addressing the unique health needs of adolescents.
“Ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and newborns is not just a health priority - it is a moral imperative,” said Ms Shenaaz El-Halabi, WHO representative to South Africa. “As we mark World Health Day, we celebrate South Africa’s progress and recommit to supporting every mother and child, especially in underserved communities.”
She added that WHO remains a committed partner in strengthening the country’s health systems and accelerating progress toward the 2030 SDG goals.
The Department of Health and WHO are calling on communities, healthcare providers, civil society, policymakers, educators, and researchers to unite in support of every mother and newborn - so that all may not only survive but thrive.