While global maternal and child mortality rates are on the decline, South Africa’s high rates are still worrisome. Consequently, national attention has been turned towards actively reducing the country’s maternal and neonatal death toll. The National Health Insurance (NHI) programme will lead to a complete restructuring of primary healthcare services, and the recently launched Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) is another major step towards taking on the country’s high maternal and neonatal risk factors.

The Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA) programme takes support of pregnant women and new mothers to the next level in a technologically-aware manner, by providing easy access to vital healthcare information through something most South Africans possess – the mobile phone.