All correspondence to be directed to:
The Chief Executive Officer
Ms. K. Wiebe-Randeree
K/T Hospital Complex
Private Bag A14
KLERKSDORP 2570
Tel: (018) 406 4750
Fax: (018) 462 7818
kranderee@nwpg.gov.za,/ Eng: kamoloko@nwpg.gov.za
OFFICE OF THE PRO - KLERKSDORP/TSHEPONG HOSPITAL COMPLEX
Klerksdorp/Tshepong hospital in collaboration with North-West University, Potchefstroom campus held a
successful Maternal and Neonatal Symposium from the 26th -27 May 2014 at North-West University GKSA
Hall under the theme: “Keeping the fingers on the pulse”. The focus of this symposium is to share clinical
care pathways and best practices in maternal and neonatal care, with the aim to systematically reduce
maternal and neonatal mortality and provide evidence based midwifery best practices to mother and baby.
The symposium was a success as it serves as a cornerstone and prepared maternal-child health nurses
and midwives for effective inter professional team leadership as they strive to improve the quality of health
care for childbearing women and children up to 5 years.
The symposium presentations were done by high profile and esteem maternal and neonatal care
specialists who among the topics discussed the correct use of Partogram, prevention and management of
bleeding during pregnancy, prevention of maternal and newborn mortalities, newborn body language and
expanding the practice of human breast milk banking.
The importance of outreach programmes where discussed as they used the opportunity to assist and give
education throughout the year and to come up with solutions to rectify the identified problems such wrong
handling of referral complicated pregnancy cases and reduction of referrals from these areas and better
maternal and infant outcomes.
The symposium was attended by about 300 midwives from different areas of the North West Province and
also graced by Kgosi Konrad Motlhabane, the DDG for Health in the Province, Mr. Polaki Mokatsane, and
CEO of Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex. Kgosi Konrad Motlhabane said “North West Province
requires substantially increased number of advanced trained nurses in neonatology, with significant
strengthening of skills in midwifery to carryout total quality care for the mother and the baby both in public
and private health sector.”
“Indeed, training of more midwives and placing them to community health centres, clinics, maternity and
obstetric unit, and hospitals are priority. This could have an immediate and positive impact on maternal and
neonatal care, which would reduce maternal and child mortality.”
Department will move towards giving scholarship and yet the retention of scarce skills in return on
investment, reside in the management of health facilities, hospitals and Primary Health Clinic service, both t
in public and private sector. Suffice to say, we are doing well as the province in reducing maternal mortality
to less 100/100lk and Reduce infant mortality to less than 20/1k.
Dr. Bansil Lyngdoh, Head of Department & Specialist Gynaecology and Obstetrics from
Klerksdorp/Tshepong hospital complex gave a resonant clinical presentation on Diabetes Mellitus in
pregnancy which is the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality if not picked up at the early stage of
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gestation. According to Dr Lyngdoh, African women have an eleven fold increase risk of developing
glucose intolerance during pregnancy compared to Caucasian women (Diabet Med 1992).
Therefore, it’s important for pregnant mothers to be screened at the first antenatal visit and a universal
approach is to screen again at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy stage by use of oral glucose tolerance as an
indicator. Dr. Lyngdoh also provides excellent glycemic control to improve the perinatal outcomes and
approach to prevent long term maternal and fetal effects.
Dr. L. De Bruyn presented anti partum haemorrhage which means external bleeding from the genital tract
of the pregnant mother from 28 weeks of gestation. It is the most important cause of maternal death and
must at all times be treated as an emergency. The bleeding may be caused by abruption placenta,
placenta previa etc. Abruption placenta is a premature placenta detachment from the uterine wall. Patient
may experience symptoms such as abdominal pains, foetal movement, discharge, etc. The best way is
caesarean section immediately to save lives. All mothers diagnosed with abruption placenta should be
managed in an obstetric unit with high care facilities and specialist cover and blood transfusion facility and
caesarean section theatre.
In the world we live in, 1 baby dies every 20 minutes from preventable deaths. Breast milk reduce baby
dying at early stages by giving immunity. Exclusive breastfeeding is highly advocated in South Africa as it is
providing infants with high nutrition and nutrients to help the baby grow healthy.” Why give you child milk
form four legged animal instead of human milk” said Dr. Welma Lubbe, of NWU School of Nursing Science.
She further explained that human milk provides immunity for the baby. So give expressed breast milk even
if you are HIV positive or exposed. Ask your health professional. You can get breast milk also from other
hospitals which have breast milk banks. But it must start by pregnant mothers donating breast milk.
Specialist Paediatrics Dr. Omphile Mekgoe from K/T hospital complex covered clinical approach to
respiratory distress and the acceptable level of giving oxygen therapy to a baby with respiratory distress.
Ms. Benita van Niekerk Midwifery Student Nurse from the NW University of Potchefstroom said “My
experience of the symposium is that if have learned a lot about the field and what is going on. It is important
that we do such symposiums so that we can be experts in our field and to have the knowledge to do so”.
Ms. Kegomoditswe Moroke, Midwife from Mafikeng Provincial hospital, said the Maternal & Neonatal
care Symposium was marvellous, and so interesting. “I have acquired and refreshed by knowledge and in
general it was interesting and important and I believe we need symposiums like this”. “I suggest that we
share the information with the others who couldn’t attend. It will be nice if such symposiums could be held
frequently to also cover midwives from rural area clinics to have an access and exposure to because they
are in most cases the first contact to pregnant women and referrals” said Ms. Moroke. End.
Caption: picture DSCO4629:
Sister F.Boer, Miss Grace Tsele; Martenal and Child Care
Directorate,Kgosi Konrard Motlhabane; DDG of NW Dept of Health,Dr N. Davies- NWU Nursing Science
School,Mr Polaki Mokatsane; CEO KT Hospital Complex, Mr Enoch Manyame:WHRI Manager in Dr KK District,
DR w. Lubbe; NWU Nursing Science School; Presenters; ,Dr N.Wattrus,Dr Howard Monyonga,Dr Dianna Du
Plessis and Sister Puleng Morabe.
Enquires: Mr. Nico Masiu
Communications Manager
Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital complex
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Cell: 060 683 7096. Tel 018 4064703. Fax 018 462 2923. Rmasiu@nwpg.gov.za.
Issued by:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Spokesperson; 08292 999 58
Media & Communications
tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
Department of Health, North West Provincial Administration
"Healthy Living for All"
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