Women’s health and wellness is a priority of every stage of life

Celebrate and cherish your health and wellness at every stage of life!  Taking care of your health is important every day, but this Women’s Day the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness reminds women to seize two opportunities that will benefit them and their families for life.

Confirming your pregnancy early on and giving your young girl the opportunity for vaccination against cervical cancer are two steps each woman should take without hesitation.
 

Benefits of confirming your pregnancy early

By building a relationship with your local maternity unit as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, you will have the best possible support, information and guidance throughout your pregnancy journey. Healthcare workers will be able to answer your questions and will ensure that you and the baby can stay as healthy as possible.  Book your first visit to the clinic as soon as you find out you are pregnant or before 20 weeks or as soon as possible thereafter to receive antenatal pregnancy care. 

One staff member who loves supporting women who are pregnant, is Sr Mishce Daniels of Maitland CDC. “Having mommies coming to book early is great! Screenings can be done, and we can put everything in place to promote a healthy mother, baby and pregnancy,” says Sr Daniels. Sr Daniels explains that health care workers are trained to provide health information and support to women during their pregnancy. As far as possible, younger mothers, adolescent mothers or first-time mothers are provided with additional support to ensure that they are prepared and understand what to expect during the pregnancy and birth.  “When I meet with expectant mothers, I want to make sure that the proper screening, prevention and implementation of any necessary care to the patient, and the baby, takes place at each of the visits, so that mom can experience the best pregnancy possible.”

The importance of booking early allows our midwives to check your stage of pregnancy, determine if there are any complications in the mother or baby that require further investigation and management, provide you with a full examination, assess your health status and monitor your pregnancy journey.  We can also provide prenatal education which forms part of our department’s First 1000 Days childhood plan and which prepares all expectant mothers for a safe delivery. 

Sr Daniels explains that the additional benefits of early booking assist expecting mothers to:

As soon as you suspect that you are pregnant or have confirmed your pregnancy, it is important to attend a booking visit at a Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) clinic. It is advised to book as early as possible as this will enable the midwife to accurately determine when your baby is due to be born, assess your health status, and provide you with all the information you need to promote a healthy pregnancy. Many women will experience an uncomplicated pregnancy and will be able to attend a Midwife Obstetric Unit where a midwife will care for them during their pregnancy and birth. Our well-trained, competent midwives are integral to the services we offer and ensure that these services are sustainable.   

If women experience complications during their pregnancy, there are a range of specialist services designed specifically to cater to high-risk pregnancies. Women will be referred from the Midwife Obstetric Unit to either a district or regional or tertiary hospital to receive clinical services that are tailored to meet the needs of both the mother and baby.  Specialist doctors based at hospitals provide care for  a range of pre-existing and pregnancy-related conditions. The multidisciplinary team of specialists work together to manage complications and give patients the care they need for the best possible outcomes.

Dr Simon Moeti, Manager Medical Service based at Tygerberg Hospital explains that a High-Risk Pregnancy Clinic offers specialised care for expectant mothers with complex medical conditions and a team of expert obstetricians and maternal-foetal medicine specialists provide care to ensure the health and safety of both mother and baby throughout the pregnancy.  Mothers with pregnancy complications receive intensive monitoring and treatment during their pregnancy or postpartum period. Sick newborn and premature babies may also require intensive monitoring and treatment to ensure their well-being.

Data shows that, unfortunately, there has been a steady decline in the totals of mothers visiting the antenatal clinics before their first 20 weeks of pregnancy. This means that women are further along in pregnancy when visiting our clinics, and the risks of complications may have increased. The risk of managing pregnancy with unknown chronic conditions increases in cases like this.  We ask that women seek support early on and carefully follow the guidance of healthcare workers.

To ensure a healthy pregnancy make sure that you:

Protect girls from cervical cancer

This women's month we are highlighting the importance of health and wellness of our young girls across the province, who are our future leaders.  2024 marks a decade since we joined the global fight against the human papillomavirus (HPV) through our school-based programme, where the HPV vaccines are offered to young girls to prevent cervical cancer later in life.  

Healthcare staff arranges visits to schools to administer the vaccine to young girls.  The HPV vaccine is administered by trained professional nurses who are employed by the department of health and wellness. These hardworking nurses, some of whom have been part of the school vaccination programme, make appointments with the principals or teachers at the schools to inform them of the dates when they will visit, and to ensure that all the consent forms are distributed. All girls in Grade 5 over the age of 9 years are eligible to receive the HPV vaccine.  It is crucial that these consent forms are signed by the eligible girl’s parent, guardian or caregiver. Only girls with signed forms will receive an HPV vaccine.  All we ask of parents is to give this cancer preventing vaccine may be given to Grade 5 girls who are over the age of nine years.

It is normal for parents to have concerns, which we acknowledge. As with all vaccinations, some girls may experience some bruising or redness at the vaccination site. In most cases, the side effects usually resolve within a few days. Severe allergic reactions are rare. If any reaction is severe or persistent, or if parents are worried about their child, they must please contact their healthcare worker or doctor.

“Cancer is a reality,” says Sr Elaine Jacobs. She is based in the Breede Valley where she and a small team each year visits schools as part of the provincial campaign against HPV. “Every girl who is eligible, should get this vaccination because so many woman are affected by cervical cancer. It really is essential that girls get this vaccine.” She appeals to adults to carefully read the information about the campaign that is shared via the schools, and to return the signed consent forms so that staff like herself can administer this vaccine for free.

According to the Cancer Association of South Africa, cervical cancer is the cancer women die of most commonly in South Africa. It is the 2nd most common cancer in the country.  Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer, and vaccination is a critical preventative measure, especially when given to females in their pre-teen and early adult years. The vaccines are available at local health clinics, pharmacies, and doctor's offices. Regular screening through Pap smears and HPV testing can greatly benefit patients by catching cervical cancer early and reducing the need for advanced cancer treatments.

Unfortunately, our tertiary hospitals continue to see a high number of patients who are presenting with advanced cervical cancer.  Prevention and early intervention can significantly reduce the need for tertiary healthcare services. Some of the preventative measures available to women in the province include vaccination programs, regular screening and early detection, and lifestyle changes.

Dr Moeti advises, “Let us not forget that cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in South Africa and HPV as a primary risk factor accounts for 90% of cervical cancer cases.  Fortunately most cervical cancer cases are preventable by vaccinating adolescent girls before their sexual debut and first exposure to HPV."

Additionally, changes in lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of cervical cancer for example quitting smoking and safe sexual practices.

For more information about HPV, please visit: