The Road to A Healthy Pregnancy Starts with A Visit to The Clinic
Pregnancy is by far one of the most exciting experiences one can ever be part of, and Ekurhuleni health practitioners lend a helping hand to make the nine-month journey even more precious for the expectant moms.
The City’s accoucheur (male midwife) Patrick Magodzho spoke about services offered at primary health facilities. This was in commemoration of Pregnancy Awareness Week that ran from 10 to 16 February.
“We strongly emphasise the importance for women to start attending antenatal care as soon as they become aware that they are pregnant.”
“This is because a large number of maternal and child deaths can be prevented through an early antenatal care and some basic interventions can be implemented to improve the mother’s health and that of her baby,” Magodzho said.
These services include MomConnect, an initiative which aims to support maternal health through the use of a cellphone-based technology integrated into maternal and child health services.
Important information is given to pregnant women like expectant mom Reitumetsi Langani who receives a SMS every month reminding her of her next clinic appointment.
Reitumetsi is now in her third trimester, and she is pleased with the MomConnect service. She encourages other women to enquire about it during their antenatal visits as she has received tips to be alert for medical conditions that can be aggravated by pregnancy.
Antenatal care services include:
- Free HIV testing and voluntary counselling (VCT)
- Early recognition of danger signs in pregnancy and post delivery
- Birth preparedness and complication readiness
- Self-care, including nutrition and high standard of hygiene
Once a healthcare practitioner has confirmed pregnancy, the mother is encouraged to register with MomConnect by simply dialling *134*550# on their cellphone.
Caption
The City of Ekurhuleni’s accoucheur (male midwife) Patrick Magodzho with expectant mom Reitumetsi Langani during her antenatal care visit at Katlehong North Clinic in Katlehong.
