Pregnancy Awareness Week
Pregnancy Awareness Week is observed from 6 to 10 February 2023. The primary purpose of Pregnancy Awareness Week is to strengthen pregnancy education and stress important issues that promote healthy pregnancy and safe motherhood. Pregnant women should attend antenatal care as soon as they suspect they are pregnant and within their first trimester.
Pregnancy and childbirth are included in the Prescribed Minimum Benefits, particularly antenatal and obstetric care requiring hospitalisation, including delivery.
An important reason for antenatal care is that it leads to the following benefits:
- the opportunity to exclude and manage existing medical conditions which can be aggravated by the pregnancy, such as hypertension, diabetes, infections and anaemia
- free HIV testing and voluntary counselling (VCT)
- early recognition of danger signs in pregnancy and post-delivery
- birth preparedness and complication readiness
- self-care, including nutrition and a high standard of hygiene
- information on the role of the father, the male partner and the family.
As part of Pregnancy Awareness Week, pregnant women are also encouraged to take action to ensure they have the following rights:
- The right of a woman to choose her companion who will provide her with support during pregnancy and childbirth, and who will accompany her to the antenatal care clinic as well as she goes into labour.
- The right of the woman to be treated with respect, dignity and confidentiality
- The right of the woman to ask questions and also to get explanation about her condition.
