SEDIBENG. – The Gauteng Health Provincial MONEC Conference, in partnership with the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), recently took place at the Quest Conference Centre in Vanderbijlpark.

The Gauteng Health Department hosted the 12th Annual Midwifery Obstetric Neonatal and Child Health (MONEC) Conference under the theme: “Nurses and Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis,” which calls on the empowerment of nurses so that quality care reaches every mother and every child, in every facility, at every step of the journey.

The department said this annual conference rotates across Gauteng’s health districts and serves as a pivotal platform for professional development, networking, and advancement in maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare. It brings together healthcare professionals to share knowledge, strengthen clinical practices, and collaborate on improving health outcomes for mothers and children.

“Five key focus areas guide the conference. Maternal health aims to prevent complications such as hypertension and obstetric haemorrhage – especially those related to caesarean deliveries and septic miscarriages. Newborn and neonatal Health focuses on reducing prematurity, infections or sepsis, birth asphyxia, and the vertical transmission of HIV from mother to child. In the area of child health, the goal is to eliminate vaccine-preventable deaths and ensure that all children under one year of age are fully immunised.”

A statement by the department added that nutrition is another critical focus, with efforts directed at preventing stunting in children under five and improving the overall nutritional status of communities across Gauteng.

“Lastly, women’s health emphasises the importance of early detection and effective management of breast and cervical cancers, which are among the leading health concerns for women.  The MONEC Conference also enhanced clinical skills through presentations of evidence-based research. These sessions focus on improving clinical care, enriching the patient experience, promoting respectful maternity care, and addressing challenges that hinder effective patient and child health services.”