Pretoria - In the heart of Pretoria, at FF Ribeiro Clinic, two women, one a hopeful new mother, the other a dedicated midwife cross paths on a journey that reflects the strength, compassion, and challenges of maternal health care in South Africa.
“My name is Lesego Masamola, and this is my first child, and everything about this pregnancy feels new, but beautiful.” Originally from Limpopo, Lesego now lives in Pretoria with her partner. Her voice is calm, but every word carries the weight of hope. “My biggest hope for my child is that she grows in a good environment, with access to everything she needs, especially good healthcare. I want her to have more than I had growing up.”
She says she felt safe and supported throughout her pregnancy journey, not only by her family but also by the health system. “In South Africa, we have many clinics and hospitals.

It makes it easier to go where you’re comfortable and where you find a good environment,” she explains. Her gratitude is sincere, but she doesn’t overlook the deeper needs. “Pregnancy changes you emotionally and physically. It’s new for many of us. So I wish that when we come for appointments, we receive not just care, but therapy too, so we don’t feel abandoned.”
Lesego’s reflections echo the heartbeat of this year’s World Health Day theme: Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures. Her story represents thousands of women who navigate the healthcare system during a deeply transformative time, women despite economic pressures and uncertainty, seek healthy beginnings for their children.

A few doors down at the same clinic, Mildred Sisinkie, a clinician in the antenatal department, is juggling between consultations and attending to babies. She pauses only briefly to reflect on her work.
I’m happy with my job. I love helping these women,” she says, her face bright with purpose. But the challenges she faces are just as real.
“Many migrant and refugee patients start their antenatal care late,” she explains. “Some are scared because they don’t have a passport or ID. Others can’t speak English, and we don’t always have interpreters. So we improvise, we ask other patients to help us translate.”

Despite these obstacles, Mildred has seen the impact of compassionate, immediate care. “I remember a woman who arrived here at 36 weeks, already in labour, no antenatal record. Her blood pressure was dangerously high. We called the hospital immediately and got her transferred. She had an emergency C-section, and both mother and baby made it. A week later, they came back healthy and happy. That’s what makes this worth it.”

When asked what would help her serve better, Mildred points to the need for language training, digital literacy, and more resources. “If we could learn even basic phrases in languages like French, it would help. And we need more staff. We do our best, but quality care needs time. We rush sometimes, and that’s not fair to the mothers.”
She also strongly believes in the foundation laid by the country’s inclusive policies. “Health is for all,” she affirms. “Our laws don’t discriminate whether you’re a foreigner, refugee, or migrant. Healthcare is free, and we do our best to provide it to everyone.”

Back in the waiting room, Lesego rests quietly, her hand still on her belly. She smiles when asked what “healthy beginnings” means to her. “It means starting fresh in your mind, in your heart. Planning properly, so everything in your life goes well. Especially when you’re doing it for your baby.”
WHO works closely with the National Department of Health to strengthen the quality of maternal and newborn health services through technical guidance, health system support, and policy alignment. WHO’s contributions include updating clinical guidelines that build frontline health worker capacity, and promoting access to quality care for all populations, including the vulnerable, migrants and refugees.

"Attending all 8 antenatal care (ANC) visits is very important to ensure a healthy pregnancy and a safe delivery, both for the mother and the baby. Mothers, need to be encouraged and supported to attend all clinic visits even after delivery. Families also have a critical role to support her adherence of the scheduled visits”, Dr Sithembile Dlamini-Nqeketo , WHO South Africa Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child & Adolescent health Officer

On this year’s World Health Day, the experiences shared highlight the importance of providing quality maternal care to all mothers, regardless of background, status, or language. At FF Ribeiro Clinic in South Africa, the interaction between a midwife and a mother illustrates how health services contribute to building healthy beginnings for both mothers and their children.