On Monday we celebrated World Health Day which is marked each year on April 7. It is a day that brings with it a moment to reflect on the state of our health systems and the lives that depend on them. This year, the World Health Organization has launched a year-long campaign under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”—shining a spotlight on maternal and newborn health.
In the Ngami region, where many villages still rely on distant clinics and overstretched healthcare workers, this message hits close to home. The maternal mortality rate and under 5 mortality rates in our region is still significantly high.
The key messages for this year’s celebration were as follows;
We can end preventable maternal and new-born mortality. WHO is calling for a massive intensification of efforts to ensure access to high quality respectful care for women and new-borns, especially in the poorest countries and emergencies where most deaths occur.
Women’s health needs extend beyond simply surviving childbirth. Women everywhere deserve support from health providers who listen to their concerns and meet their needs, including in the extended postpartum period when millions still lack critical care.
Access to sexual and reproductive health services underpin maternal outcomes and women’s ability to plan their lives and health – agency and empowerment for women and girls is a fundamental ‘missing piece’ for tackling maternal mortality and achieving health for all.
Investing in all aspects of maternal and new-born health brings immense benefits for families, communities and societies, addresses some key health disparities, and adds years and love to life for billions of women and their families around the world.
While Botswana has made great strides in healthcare, the journey isn’t over—especially for women and newborns in remote parts of the country. In places or the settlements along the Okavango, expecting mothers often travel long distances just to access antenatal care. Some even give birth on the way to a clinic, due to lack of transport or timely medical attention.
The “Healthy Beginnings” campaign urges government and health leaders to do more—to make sure no woman dies giving life, and no baby is lost due to something we could have prevented. It also reminds us not to stop at childbirth, but to support women’s health beyond delivery. Whether it’s postnatal care, nutrition, mental health support, or access to family planning, women deserve care that lasts well beyond nine months.
This years’ campaign could not be more relevant for our situation in Botswana. With a new government at the helm, our health care systems also need a “new beginning”. For a very long time our health care facilities have been left to be dilapidated and some beyond a point where they are not usable. We have been having a large exodus of healthcare workers to “greener” pastures mainly due to the challenging work conditions. It is thus important for our leaders to take a step back and assessed where we went wrong int the past and get us on track and improve our health care systems for a more “Hopeful Future”.
