KZN tackles maternal deaths

Presenting his department's Budget Vote in the provincial Legislature on Thursday, 7 June 2012, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, highlighted that the province has not overcome this challenge, with the 2008-2010 National Confidential Enquiries report into Maternal Deaths stating KwaZulu-Natal's maternal mortality ratio as being 192 per 100 000 live births.

He said that the Ngwelezane and Lower Umfolozi as well as Newcastle and Madadeni Hospitals have been initially selected for the services.

In addition, the department will further provide lodger mother homes with facilities to ensure pregnant women close to their delivery date can be accommodated without having to travel long distances to give birth.

"We have also proclaimed that going forward, no health facility should be built without these homes, including the KZN Children's Hospital and the new Paediatric Unit at King Edward VIII Hospital," Dhlomo said.

To address transportation and skilled personnel shortages, Dhlomo announced that each district has at least one specialised Emergency Medical Services vehicle for maternity and neonatal care, with an additional 28 obstetric ambulances in the process of being procured, bringing the total number of obstetric ambulances to 40.

Basic Obstetric Emergency Care units were also being established in strategic positions within districts to improve access to essential health services, particularly those in rural areas.

However, Dhlomo raised concern at the late booking of pregnant women for antenatal care, which delayed their access to life-saving interventions.

"It's a challenge we are continuously addressing through awareness and more recently, enhanced by the selection of our province to launch the campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality in Africa [CARMMA] under the theme: "South Africa Cares: No Women Should Die While Giving Birth"."

The campaign to address this will include:

• Strengthening access to a wide range of sexual health services, especially family planning
  
• Promotion of early antenatal care attendance and booking
  
• Better access to skilled birth attendance through the provision of obstetric ambulances to every facility where deliveries are conducted
  
• Establishment of maternity waiting homes where necessary
  
• Strengthening Human Resources for maternal and child health through training
  
• Promotion of breast-feeding
  
• Intensifying efforts to manage HIV positive mothers and children through improved access to treatment and management of co-infections
  
• Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV

He said the package of measures would be a major boost for women in rural areas who were the most affected by maternal deaths.

"At the same time, we are also working towards reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies, through our revival of family planning awareness workshops and contraception use, since its launch last October, 55 community dialogues have been held with more taking place in the coming months," said the MEC.