Sr Thembisile Makhomboti is in charge of the Preventative Department.
At a mother-to-be's first visit to the Antenatal Clinic she receives education on HIV/AIDS, as well as general health education. All women are offered an HIV test after being informed of the risk mother-to-child transmission poses. This provides the opportunity for a woman to receive the necessary treatment and to follow the correct protocol to minimise the risk of HIV transmission. In line with the Department of health guidelines for Option B+, all HIV positive mothers are initiated onto lifelong antiretrovirals (ARVs) regardless of their CD4 count.
Women return at weeks 26, 32, and 38 to reach a total of four antenatal visits. A sonar (ultrasound) assessment may be done, depending on the availability of a sonographer, else patients are referred for this service. If a patient has still not delivered at 40 weeks, she may return to the clinic for assessment. Babies are not delivered at Witkoppen, women are referred to their closest delivery facility, and return to Witkoppen after the baby is born for postnatal care.
The education and care given at the Antenatal Clinic lays the foundation for a successful birth and follow-up in the Postnatal Clinic at Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre.
All male partners are welcome and encouraged to attend with their partners.