Maternal and child healthcare in Thabazimbi
Every mother deserves the chance of a safe pregnancy, and every child the healthiest possible start in life. Yet maternal and newborn health remains one of South Africa’s most pressing public health priorities.
A programme built to strengthen the whole system
The District Health Barometer 2024/2025 identifies maternal mortality, antenatal care, newborn survival and the quality of district health services as critical indicators of a well-functioning health system. It highlights the need to strengthen district hospitals and primary healthcare facilities through better clinical capacity, quality improvement, and access to essential medical equipment and timely maternal healthcare.
Dikuno partnered with the South African Healthcare Foundation, the SIOC Community Development Trust and the Limpopo Department of Health to deliver a three-year maternal and child health programme across the Thabazimbi sub-district. Rather than focusing on a single intervention, the programme improves clinical skills, expands access to life-saving equipment, strengthens health promotion and raises the quality of care for mothers, newborns and children.
Mother and child health is a key priority, not only for the facility or the district, but nationally. The programme has strengthened our health system through better technology and continuous training for healthcare professionals. It improves the overall outcomes for the patients we serve.
Dr Raisibe Kupa, Head of Thabazimbi District Hospital
Dr Kupa believes that investing in people is as important as investing in equipment. Medicine keeps evolving, and sustainability means helping healthcare professionals keep pace with new knowledge, protocols and technology.
Early results
Improvements in maternal and child health outcomes need sustained monitoring over many years, but the programme has already strengthened several critical parts of the local health system. Healthcare workers have new clinical skills to manage obstetric emergencies, facilities are equipped with essential life-saving technology, and thousands of community members have received health education on pregnancy, breastfeeding, HIV prevention, immunisation and reproductive health.
New Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) equipment now lets newborns with respiratory distress receive treatment within the paediatric ward, reducing unnecessary patient transfers while improving the quality of care. During the reporting period, healthcare facilities in the Thabazimbi sub-district also achieved compliance with the Office of Health Standards Compliance requirements, a milestone that strengthens readiness for National Health Insurance.
- 7facilities supported
- 25clinicians trained: doctors and midwives
- 6maternal and child health ambassadors
- 49,771patients reached through health promotion
- 2,000community outreach beneficiaries (approx.)
Dr Raisibe Kupa in her office at Thabazimbi District Hospital A pregnant woman inside the maternity ward A new mother sitting in her hospital bed The maternity unit entrance