Programme revolutionises maternal and child health

The South African National Department of Health celebrates the 10th anniversary of MomConnect, a flagship programme.

The department aims to support maternal and child health using mobile technology. Through MomConnect, pregnant women and new mothers receive free maternal health messaging via SMS or WhatsApp and can access a text-based helpdesk for ratings or queries.

It also recognises the contributions of all the stakeholders involved in MomConnect, including partner organisations, healthcare professionals, helpdesk operators and the mothers who engaged with and benefited from the programme.

MomConnect is a free service available in all 11 official SA languages, providing SMS messages in each of these languages. Additionally, WhatsApp support is offered in English. Participation is voluntary, and pregnant women and new mothers can sign up at clinics nationwide. This ensures that every woman, regardless of background or language, has access to essential health resources and messages tailored to her specific needs.

Over the years, MomConnect has showcased the benefits of providing consistent and trustworthy stage-based digital health messaging during critical periods such as pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life.

“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of MomConnect, we honour a decade of groundbreaking support for pregnant women and their children in SA,” said Gauteng MEC for Health Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.

“I congratulate the National Department of Health on this incredible milestone,” said Debbie Rogers, the CEO of Reach Digital Health.

“We are extremely grateful for the collaboration and proud to have brought in key partners that contributed to the country’s maternal and child health progress in such a significant way. Together, we will continue to innovate, expand digital health services, empower mothers, and impact our country and improve South Africans’ health and social development,” concluded Rogers.

Registration:

A pregnant woman or mom can register for MomConnect in any of these ways:

• Send “join” on WhatsApp to 079 631 2456;

• Dial *134*550*2# (free);

• Scan the QR code.

The woman will need the relevant facility code from a nurse at a public clinic to finish the registration and her estimated delivery date.

Moms and pregnant women can register for MomConnect at these clinics:

• Alberton North Clinic: Corner of 2nd Avenue and Hendrik Potgieter Street, Alberton North;

• NHN Akeso Alberton Clinic: 15 Clinton Road, New Redruth, Alberton, 1449;

• Rosettenville Clinic: 1 Rose Street, Rosettenville;