University of Pretoria

The Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund (NMCF) has, through the Goelama Programme since 2002, funded non-governmental organisations to support orphans and vulnerable children. The focus has been on strengthening households and support systems for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), promoting behaviour change to prevent further spread of HIV, and enhancing integration with local government services. Based on the fact that many children, including orphans, are dying of AIDS, without appropriate palliative care, an expansion of the NMCF Goelama approach is being developed. This is a collaboration between the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fund, the NMCF and the Hospice Association of South Africa.

Perinatal mortality rates have long been used as an indicator of the standard of maternal and newborn care. Their importance in this regard is undisputed. Rates can be as low as 9/1000 births in some developed countries but are considerably higher in the developing world. Information from rural South Africa is limited and detailed analysis is made difficult by problems of isolation, poor communications, staff shortages and often, incomplete record keeping.