​This year's World Health Day observed on 07 April 2025 kicked off the World Health Organisation's (WHO) year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health titled "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures", which urges governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritise women's longer-term health and well-being.
In line with this campaign, it is worth noting the Gauteng Department of Health's (GDoH) significant improvement in maternal and child care services which are available in all levels of care including primary health care, community health centres and hospitals in the province.
The GDoH has ensured the availability of antenatal care services, expanded programme on immunisations, integrated management of childhood illnesses and delivery sites managed by midwives in community health centres. 
In antenatal care, the Department has facilities that offer basic ultrasound to pregnant women during their first antenatal visit making sure that we reach the goal of making sure that every pregnant woman has at least one scan during their current pregnancy. This ensures early detection of any abnormalities in the pregnancy.  
The WHO estimates that worldwide, 260 000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year, while over 2 million babies die in their first month of life and around 2 million more are stillborn. 
The GDoH has established recovery plan formulated combat maternal and child mortality and morbidity. A team of specialists consisting of advanced midwives and obstetricians hold monthly review meetings to assess the maternal deaths that occur, this informs the saving mothers report. This report has recommendations which the department implements and supports the different health districts in implementing. 
There has also been the revamping of the availability of specialised care for pregnant women, neonates and children through intensive care units. Many hospitals such as the Bertha Gxowa District Hospital, Tembisa Hospital and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital amongst others have recently opened newly refurbished Neonatal Wards and ICU units. 
To assist with early identification and management of infections and diseases, the Department has also ensured the availability of rapid tests during antenatal care visits for syphilis, HIV, and  haemoglobin which have improved turnaround time of intervention on patient care.
In addition, medical termination of pregnancy, and surgical termination of pregnancy until 12 weeks and 6 days is available at community health centres and 2nd trimester termination of pregnancy is available at hospitals. This has reduced the use of backyard abortions which are one of the leading causes of maternal deaths around the world. 
Moreover, the GDoH on an annual basis ensures the intake of 50 professional nurses and 50 maternal and neonatal specialists in the different Gauteng colleges of nursing who undergo extensive training in management of disease and illnesses. 
There is also training of doctors and nurses on Basic Antenatal Care, Essential Steps in Managing Obstetric Emergencies, Helping Babies Breath, contraceptives and fertility training, Management of Small and Sick Babies and Neonates, Mother Baby Friendly Initiative, expanded programme on immunisations, integrated management of childhood illnesses and the Vertical transmission programme. This is done to improve the skill of clinicians in managing pregnant women, neonates, children and women during delivery.
Through the GDoH's Corner-to-Corner and AsibeHealthyGP campaigns, mobile clinics with a compliment of different health professionals visit townships informal settlements and hostels to take maternal and child services closer to them.