By Siphesihle Dlamini
The world united in observance of World Health Day this April 7, the familiar hum of health awareness campaigns, community initiatives, and global calls to action reverberates through clinics, hospitals, and public spaces alike.
But for The Clinic Group, a leading healthcare institution in Eswatini, renowned for its holistic approach to medical care, this year’s theme— “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” was not just a slogan. It is a powerful call to action and a blueprint for long-term change.
In an exclusive interview with Dr Khotso Ramphele, The Clinic Group’s Medical Director, underscored the day’s significance, emphasizing that World Health Day is more than a calendar event but a potent reminder of the collective responsibility to safeguard the health of mothers and newborns.
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“This year, The Group is commemorating the day through community outreach programs, educational workshops, and partnerships with local organizations to raise awareness about maternal and newborn health,” Dr Ramphele stated.
World Health Day, established in 1948 by the World Health Organization (WHO), is an annual global health awareness day observed on April 7.
It is a moment for the world to reflect, re-strategize, and recommit to the principle that health is a human right.
This year, the WHO has chosen to spotlight a profoundly important issue: ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
The theme, “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,” reflects a bold vision, to ensure every mother and every newborn, regardless of geography or socio-economic status, has access to quality healthcare, support, and education.
For The Clinic Group, the global theme seamlessly aligns with their local mission. “We recognize that a mother’s well-being is inextricably linked to her child’s.
Our role as healthcare providers is not only to intervene during crises but to create a continuum of care that begins before conception and extends well beyond childbirth,” Dr Ramphele explained.
True to its name, The Clinic Group has taken tangible, structured, and wide-reaching steps to translate this year’s theme into impactful community interventions.
Dr Ramphele outlined a multifaceted approach that touches every corner of maternal and newborn health.
- Educational Campaigns
At the heart of their mission lies education—because informed mothers make empowered choices. The Clinic Group has launched a series of community workshops and digital resource campaigns focusing on:
- Prenatal care essentials: helping mothers understand what to expect during pregnancy.
- Safe delivery practices: promoting facility-based births and skilled attendance.
- Postpartum care: ensuring new mothers are equipped with the knowledge to look after their health and that of their newborns.
These initiatives are not just about checking boxes, but they are about equipping mothers with lifesaving information in a culturally relevant and accessible manner.
- Healthcare Access
Education without access is a promise unfulfilled. That’s why The Clinic Group has prioritized expanding healthcare access, particularly in underserved communities.
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Through their acclaimed Magic Maternity program, expectant mothers receive:
- Free prenatal check-ups and consultations,
- Access to obstetricians, midwives, and nutritionists, and
- Practical support on breastfeeding, infant care, and postnatal recovery.
“Magic Maternity is more than a program but a journey of empowerment. We walk with the mother from the first heartbeat she hears to the first step her child takes,” said Dr Ramphele.
- Training Healthcare Providers
No intervention is complete without the hands that heal. To ensure no mother is lost to preventable complications, The Clinic Group has intensified training for healthcare professionals, with a focus on:
- Emergency obstetric care,
- Recognition of danger signs during pregnancy, and
- Psychosocial support for both mothers and families.
These training courses are crucial in a country and continent where health systems are often overburdened, and where maternal mortality remains a persistent challenge.
One of the key messages from this year’s World Health Day is that a woman’s health cannot be reduced to her reproductive role. Long after delivery, women deserve comprehensive care. The Clinic Group has responded with robust initiatives that prioritize:
Routine Screenings
- Encouraging regular Pap smears, breast exams, and HPV vaccinations.
- Screening for hypertension, diabetes, and depression—conditions that often go unnoticed but have long-term impacts.
Nutrition and Lifestyle Programs
- Hosting community nutrition workshops,
- Offering mental health counselling, and
- Supporting healthy lifestyle habits through exercise programs and wellness seminars.
Recognizing the quiet epidemic of postpartum depression and maternal anxiety, The Clinic Group has invested in peer support groups and mental health resources tailored to mothers. “We want women to know they are not alone. Whether it’s a first-time mom or a grandmother raising grandchildren, support matters. Community matters,” Dr Ramphele noted.
Dr Ramphele offered a heartfelt message to the public, “On this World Health Day, let us unite in our mission to ensure every mother and newborn has the opportunity for a healthy start. Together, we can end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and build a brighter, healthier future for generations to come. Every step count, and every life matters. Join us in making a difference.”
Sidebar: Did You Know?
- Over 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
- 99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries.
- The WHO emphasizes that with timely management, most maternal and newborn deaths are preventable.
