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The number of mothers dying during child birth at Gauteng hospitals remains high and drastic steps need to be taken to address the situation, provincial Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, says.
Mahlangu says a total of 311 mothers died in Gauteng during child birth last year, representing a rate of 154 deaths per 100 000 live births. The MEC blamed HIV and AIDS as among the causes of the deaths. "This (HIV) accounted for nearly half of all the deaths...other causes are bleeding during and after birth and preexisting medical conditions such as heart disease," she said at a media briefing.
The department has stepped up its delivery of antiretroviral therapy to all women with a CD4 count of 350 or less or with AIDS defining symptoms irrespective of the CD4 count.
Meanwhile, Mahlangu said the Gauteng Provincial Government would be compiling a report on the number of deaths registered at provincial hospitals that could partly be attributed to the two-week public sector strike
She said the report was necessary to compare the number of deaths on a normal daily basis and during the period of the strike. - BuaNews
