South Africa: Could Better Health for Your Baby Come in a Cardboard Box?

Monday, August 14, 2017

All the rage in Finland, ‘Moses baskets’ could soon be coming to South African shores.

South Africa is exploring the possibility of giving boxes to mothers of newborn babies in an effort to reduce infant deaths.

The concept is based on a world-famous Finnish policy of giving every mother, regardless of her financial status, a cardboard box stacked with baby products if she attends health checks during her pregnancy. The box, which comes with a mattress and a blanket, can also be used as a crib for the baby.

Almost 40% of pregnant women in South Africa’s public health sector go for their first check-up only after their 20th week of pregnancy, figures from the Health Systems Trust’s 2015/2016 District Health Barometer show.

Source: AllAfrica.com (link opens in a new window)

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Health Care
Tags
public health