The recent investigations into mortality at Frere Hospital and the lack of essential equipment at Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital reveal that more can be done, and that everyone has a role to play in ensuring the best care for South Africa’s future.

 

Not all of the solutions can be found in the health system. Poverty is an important underlying cause of death related to each of the ‘Big Five’ health challenges. Consistent leadership and accountability to address cross-cutting health system and equity issues is required.

 

 

Steps to Action

 

Success stories exist, involving South Africans using audit data to make a difference in healthcare provision.

 

For example in Witbank Hospital, Mpumalanga, when Saving Children audit data indicated that only 15% of mothers agreed to be tested for HIV, counselling practices were investigated. The low testing rate was thought to be due to poor understanding of HIV on the part of both counsellors and mothers, and because only group counselling was offered with no opportunity for confidentiality.

  

With a change in the local protocol for HIV testing and improved counselling skills, healthcare providers were able to see an increase in HIV testing for mothers and reduced child deaths.

 

This is just one example demonstrating that everyone has a role to play - government officials and policy makers, health managers, healthcare providers, and communities must all take steps to provide every woman, newborn and child with essential care. Dr Mark Patrick, report author and paediatrician at Grey’s Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, believes that

 

“We all need to use our talent to improve the quality of care that mothers, babies and children receive in South Africa. By doing this, at the very least, we can honour those of our country’s people who died earlier than they should have.”

 

Every Death Counts presents recommendations and strategies to address the most pressing problems, but these words must be fully implemented if South Africa is to see a reduction in maternal, neonatal and child mortality, for every death to truly count and be counted.

  
         
 
 
 
   
 
Left:: An expectant mother seeks antenatal care early in pregnancy in preparation for a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery.
Right: An expectant mother and her husband prepare for a safe delivery.
Credit: Chris Taylor/Save the Children, 2008
 
 
 
 
Proper equipment is essential during delivery. Health care devices, like the wind-up fetal heart rate monitor (left), must be robust, easy to use, inexpensive, and offer alternative power sources.
Credit: Chris Taylor/Save the Children, 2008
 
 





A doctor examines a dehydrated infant at a Durban hospital.
Credit: Marilyn Keegan, COHSASA / Photoshare, 2005		  
 
 
   


A newborn baby delivered at Mowbray Maternity Hospital in Cape Town.
Credit: Chris Taylor/Save the Children, 2008		  
 
 
 

Mothers practices Kangaroo Mother Care with their newborn babies at Barberton Hospital, Mpumalanga. Kangaroo Mother Care is a simple way to care for small babies, saving lives and enabling mothers to go home sooner with their newborns.

Credit: Anne-Marie Bergh
 
 






A volunteer student doctor examines a young child inside a mobile clinic in Cape Town.

Credit: Sangini Shah / Photoshare, 2005

  
 
 

 

Experts available for interviews

      
 
  • Prof Mickey Chopra, Director of Health Systems Research Unit, Medical Research Council. mickey.chopra@mrc.ac.za

  • Dr Robert Pattinson, Director of Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit, Medical Research Council. Robert.Pattinson@up.ac.za

  • Dr Sithembiso Velaphi, Neonatalogist, University of the Witwatersrand. velaphisc@medicine.wits.ac.za

 

  • Dr Mark Patrick, Saving Children editor and paediatrician at Grey’s Hospital, Pietermaritzburg. mark.patrick@kznhealth.gov.za

  • Dr Joy Lawn, Senior Policy and Research Advisor for Saving Newborn Lives/Save the Children US. joylawn@yahoo.co.uk

  • Dr Ngashi Ngongo Chief, Health and Nutrition Section, UNICEF South Africa. nngongo@unicef.org

 
 
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