Women are key to economic growth and development; and City Health is making it easier for women to access healthcare by providing a one-stop basket of services.

‘Fragmented health services for mothers and babies place a burden on women who have to juggle their roles of bread-winner, mother, wife and home-maker. Numerous visits to clinics and long waiting times for the necessary healthcare precludes many women from taking charge of their health,’ said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.

Many mothers find it difficult, if not impossible, to keep a multitude of clinic appointments.

‘To help women meet their health needs, and not place too much of a burden on their earning capabilities, the City of Cape Town has made a decision to re-design healthcare services. Basic ante-natal care services were first rolled out to all City health facilities; post-natal care was subsequently made available at all clinics; and efforts are now being made to integrate mom and child care so they are seen as a pair, receiving care starting from the time of conception and extending for as long as required,’ said Alderman Smith.

Various policies are being integrated to ensure that once women receive a positive pregnancy test, they are immediately booked, tested for HIV and, if needed, are enrolled on ARVs.

City Health’s integrated approach to antenatal, HIV and infant care has resulted in less than 1% of the infants born to HIV-infected moms becoming infected with HIV.

‘Expectant mothers need to be made aware of the various important steps during pregnancy and after delivery. Sending them from one health facility for one service, then to another for something else, attending various appointments on different days, as well as being seen by various clinicians only confuses the mother and leads to gaps in care,’ Alderman Smith further explained.

In addition, preventing double visits to the clinic saves women time. This enables them to be more active in the labour force, improve household income, and invest more in their own and their children’s health, education, and well-being, and ultimately this benefits all sectors of the economy.

This approach eliminates unnecessary clinic visits which results in savings in the health system.

City Health also encourages young women to take advantage of our youth-friendly services. Young women make up 37% of new HIV infections in South Africa. The city’s young women have already taken charge of their reproductive and sexual health with 93 739 testing for HIV (2016) and 31 185 attending one the City’s facilities for family planning (2017). During the 2017/18 financial year some 22 396 women over the age of 30 were screened through cervical smears. The fact that cervical cancer rarely presents any symptoms in its early stages highlights the importance of regular screening for the disease.

‘During Women’s Month we don’t only celebrate those women who have gone before, but also those who are actively taking charge of their health and making use of the services offered by the City,’ said Alderman Smith.