The Sihamba Kunye (We Walk Together) Side-by-Side Project is a 2-year funded implementation science project in Tshwane District, Gauteng Province with the aim of implementing a structured and integrated postnatal care package (‘First 1000-day Roadmap’) for the mother after delivery, located at the same service delivery point as care for her infant.
Backrow from left: Suzan Kekana, Katlego Kekana, Thato Mofokeng, Mmakeng Modisane, Rebaone Madzivhandila. Lidisa Mothiba, Tshegofatso Lesapo, Tshidi Shokoane, Bulelwa Fihla |
- Prof Ute Feucht1,2,3: Principal Investigator PI
- Dr Jeannette Wessels1,2: Co-investigator
- Dr Lesley Bamford4: Co-investigator
- Dr Tabea Phashe5: Co-investigator
- Dr Mpho Moshime-Shabangu3: Co-investigator
- Dr Annelet Kruger3: Co-investigator
- Ms Refilwe Malatji3: Co-investigator
- Ms Rinah Skosana3: Co-investigator
- Ms Vivian Mfolo3: Co-investigator
1. Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2. Department of Paediatrics, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 3. Tshwane District Health Services, Gauteng Department of Health, South Africa, 4. National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa, 5. Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Students from the University of Pretoria, Department of Industrial Engineering were involved in Time and Motion Studies on the project.
Resources
Roadmap for the Provision of a Maternal and Child Health Package of Care
The Roadmap for the Provision of a Maternal and Child Health Package of Care for the First 1000 Days outlines a strategic approach to ensure the health and well-being of mothers and children during the first 1,000 days of life — from conception to a child’s second birthday. This period is critical for physical growth, brain development, and long-term health outcomes. The roadmap focuses on integrated, high-impact interventions across maternal nutrition, antenatal care, safe delivery, breastfeeding, immunizations, and early childhood development. It serves as a guiding resource for policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to deliver coordinated, evidence-based care that supports both mother and child during this foundational window.
Use this Roadmap together with the Integration Wheel below.
Hypertension in Pregnancy National Guideline
Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal complications in South Africa. The National Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension in Pregnancy provide evidence-based recommendations to support early detection, effective treatment, and comprehensive care for pregnant women at risk. These guidelines outline standardized screening protocols, classification of hypertensive disorders, and clear management pathways to improve outcomes for both mother and baby. By promoting timely intervention and coordinated care, South Africa aims to reduce preventable morbidity and ensure safer pregnancies nationwide.
Use this guideline together with the Hypertension Wheel below.
Post-natal Care Integration Wheel
The Post-natal Care Integration Wheel is a practical tool that helps healthcare providers deliver timely, comprehensive care to mothers and newborns during the critical postnatal period. It outlines key checkups, danger signs, and care milestones from birth through the early weeks postpartum. For broader context and long-term planning, the wheel aligns with the 1000 Day Roadmap, a vital resource that emphasizes the importance of care from conception to a child’s second birthday, guiding interventions that support optimal health, nutrition, and development.
Hypertension Pregnancy Wheel
The Hypertension Pregnancy Wheel is a clinical aid designed to support healthcare providers in managing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. It offers a visual, at-a-glance guide for classifying hypertension types (chronic, gestational, preeclampsia, etc.), assessing severity, and guiding treatment timelines across gestation. For accurate and up-to-date clinical decision-making, this tool should always be used in conjunction with the Hypertension in Pregnancy Guideline, a comprehensive resource that outlines evidence-based recommendations on diagnosis, monitoring, and management strategies for hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
This flyer was developed as part of the Sihamba Kunye project, an initiative dedicated to improving the postnatal experience for mothers and babies. As part of our commitment to seamless, community-centered care, we created this demand-creation tool to raise awareness of the one-stop-shop postnatal integration services available to families. The flyer is available in English, Setswana, Afrikaans and Isizulu.
Watch this space!
The Sihamba Kunye project is funded by the Gates Foundation.