JOHANNESBURG - Monday, 7 April, marks World Health Day, which was founded by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948.
The day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about global health issues.
This year’s theme is ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’.
The campaign urges governments and health institutions to prioritise the long-term health of mothers and newborns.
According to the WHO, nearly 300,000 mothers die each year due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Additionally, more than two million babies die within the first month of life, and two million are stillborn.
This amounts to one preventable death every seven seconds.
In South Africa, challenges persist with dire conditions in maternity wards.
A hospital in the Eastern Cape has reported incidents where women give birth on benches or the floor due to shortages of beds, staff, and equipment.
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The Health Department says it has introduced several initiatives to address maternal and child deaths and improve access to information.