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01 November 2024 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied
Dr Nomakhuwa Tabane
Dr Nomakhuwa Tabane is the Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of the Free State.

The first 1 000 days of a baby’s life, from conception to the age of two, constitute a critical period during which children’s brains form as many as 1 000 neural connections every second – a pace that will not be repeated in their lifetime.

These connections are the building blocks of every child’s future, which makes the role of a campaign like the First 1 000 Days vitally important. It highlights the importance of stimulation and learning from the earliest possible moments, good nutrition for expectant mothers, prevention of malnutrition of children, and early diagnosis of chronic, life-threatening illnesses and developmental disorders.

This is according to Dr Nomakhuwa Tabane, Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of the Free State (UFS). The campaign was promoted by Dr Tabane’s department in partnership with the Mother and Child Academic Hospital (MACAH) Foundation.  The annual campaign kicks off on 1 November each year.

“There are certain factors that can interfere with this process and result in irreversible damage to children’s brain development, poor growth, and compromised immunity. Those conditions include prematurity, ischaemic brain damage, and infections. These are also the top contributors to the neonatal mortality.

“In the one-month to 49-month-old period, the causes of mortality and morbidity that affect brain development and growth include respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, and malnutrition,” says Dr Tabane. 

Aims of the campaign

The First 1 000 Days initiative promotes excellent mother, infant, and child healthcare by supporting community-based programmes that drive the message of the importance of the first 1 000 days of life to teenagers, young adults, healthcare workers, and the public. This initiative aims to bring about interventions that can address the Under-5 Mortality Rates (U5MR), including Neonatal Mortality Rates (NMR), Infant Mortality Rates (IMR), and Perinatal Mortality Rates (PMR).

“The campaign also aims to improve the growth and development of children in their first 1 000 days of life from conception until they are two years old. It also aims to improve expectant mothers’ health and prevent and decrease maternal mortality in the Free State, as well as to prevent unwanted pregnancies, focusing on decreasing teenage pregnancies.”

According to Dr Tabane, the 2020 South African UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME) estimate for U5MR was 32 deaths per 1 000 live births, NMR of 11 per 1 000 live births, and infant mortality rate (IMR) of 26 per 1 000 live births as compared to the Medical Research Council (MRC) estimate of U5MR of 28 per 1 000 live births, NMR of 12 per 1 000 live births and IMR of 21 per 1 000 live births (15).

South Africa behind other BRICS countries

Based on the 2020 UNIGME report, says Dr Tabane, South Africa has achieved the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) goals of NMR and the U5MR. South Africa’s indicators were much better than the UNIGME and the MRC 2020 estimates, but it still falls behind other BRICS countries.

“In contrast to other BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), UNIGME reports that in the same reporting period of 2020, China’s U5MR was seven per 1 000 live births, Brazil's 15 per 1 000 live births, and Russia's five per 1 000 live births (16). In 2020, the South African national in-hospital neonatal mortality rate (NMR) based on DHIS data was 12,0 per 1 000 live births; the infant mortality rate (IMR) was 15.1 per 1 000 live births, and the under-5 mortality (U5 MR) rate was 16.9 per 1 000 live births, with differences amongst provinces,” says Dr Tabane.

The first 1 000 days campaign’s interventions include education to prevent illnesses and deaths and promote good health, growth, and development. While many training programmes on child survival strategies have been rolled out (e.g., MSSN, HBB, ETAT, AANC, ESMOE, and IMCI), in-service training still has significant gaps.

Other interventions include preventing unwanted and unplanned pregnancies, providing healthcare support for therapeutic and interventional care, strengthening the implementation of the existing strategies developed by the Department of Health to reduce Maternal and Child Mortalities, and monitoring and evaluating the interventions.

News Archive

Rag 2005
2005-01-20

20 January
Thursday

08:00-12:00 Rag Workshop - Westblock 202

Workshops are held to introduce the First Year
students to the work that is done by Rag & Kovsco
and the importance of their social responsibility towards their community.

10:30-11:30 Lettie Fouchè

The Central Rag committee visits and treats the children of Lettie Fouchè School.

Evening Collections - Mochacos, Waterfront

First years work hard to raise money via door
to door collections in the neighbourhoods of
Bloemfontein for charity. First years dress-up as
chickens and prizes can be won every night.


21 January
Friday

08:00-12:00 Rag Workshop - Westblock 202

Workshops are held to introduce the First Year
students to the work that is done by Rag & Kovsco
and the importance of their social responsibility towards their community.


22 January
Saturday

08:30 for 09:00 Ladies Tea
in conjunction with Sarie
co-sponsored by Audi & Pick’nPay Hypermarket

An enjoyable morning where the ladies of Bloemfontein and surrounding areas are treated with beautiful
layed tea tables and guest artists. The host of every table participate in a competition and prize winners for the most beautiful tables are announced. The guest artist for Ladies Tea 2005 is Nataniel.


24 January
Monday Evening Collections - Mochachos, Waterfront

First years work hard to raise money via door to door collections in the neighbourhoods of Bloemfontein for charity. First years dress-up as chickens and prizes can be won every night.

25 January
Tuesday
08:30-16:00 MGD Coronation Ball tickets for sale
29 January 2005
Sand du Plessis Theatre
R260 per couple

The prestige evening of Kovsie Rag filled with
great music, sound and a vibrant show. The MGD
Rag Queen and her princesses are crowned and Rag
also makes use of this opportunity thank its
sponsors.

16:00 Vote for Rag Finalists at men’s hostels float-
building areas

Students have the opportunity to vote for their
favourite Rag finalists at the float building areas.

17:00-22:00 Evening Collections - Mochachos, Waterfront

First years work hard to raise money via door
to door collections in the neighbourhoods of
Bloemfontein for charity. First years dress-up as
chickens and prizes can be won every night.


26 January
Wednesday

22:00 MGD Rag Finalist Mass - Scholtz Hall

An exciting mass is held for the students to introduce
the 10 beautiful Rag finalists.

27 January
Thursday

08:00 Ritsim Launch - City Lodge

Ritsim 2005 is launched and introduced to the
UFS Top Management and the sponsors.

09:00-16:00 Campus vote for MGD Rag Finalists at various
voting stations.

Various voting stations are placed on campus for the students to vote for their favourite MGD Rag finalists.

Voting stations: Callie Human; Soetdoring Cafeteria; Library; Medical Cafeteria and at the Thakaneng Bridge.

17:00-22:00 Evening Collections - Mochachos, Waterfront

First years collect money for charity


28 January
Friday Ritsim Bloemfontein City Sales

6:30 Brace your self for the students around every corner
on the streets of Bloemfontein. Support Kovsie RAG
and buy a Ritsim 2005 magazine.
R10 per copy

16:00-22:00 Potjiekos - Vodacom & Tiger Brands
(Unite for Hunger)
Coca Cola Fortune & ABSA

Students enjoy a great evening of potjiekos and try their best to persuade the judges that their potjiekos is the best. Music and entertainment is organized.

29 January
Saturday

05:00 Ritsim Rural Town Sales

The students drive off into the country to sell the Ritsim magazines in various towns. R10 per copy.


18:00 for 18:30 MGD Coronation Ball
Sand du Plessis Theatre
R260 per couple

The crowning of the RAG Queen is a spectacular
evening not to be missed. It is an evening filled with
vibrant music and colour and you will also be treated
with a great show. Kovsie Rag also thanks its
sponsors on this prestige evening.


30 January
Monday

13:00-14:00 Sent placing - Thakaneng Bridge

Come and donate your change and it place it on a letter of a hostel of your choice.


5 February
Saturday

08:00-10:00 ENGEN RAG Procession

Proud Kovsie students have worked very hard on their floats and can’t wait for this day. Please come and enjoy a great day with Kovsie RAG and your family.

Procession Route: The Procession starts at the Kovsie Church. The procession proceeds in Nelson Mandela Drive and turn right into Markgraaff street. We then turn right into Kingsway and stop in front of the stage at the Art Market. Prof. Fourie introduces a toast on Rag 2005 and enjoys a glass of champagne with our
beautiful Rag Queen and her princesses.

Please support the first years in put your change into their collection tins.

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