Naledi Clinic: Sustainable lifeline for Mothers and Newborns on World Health Day
World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April 2025, will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health. The campaign, titled “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”, will urge governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and to prioritise women’s longer-term health and well-being.
The City of Johannesburg recently opened the newly constructed Naledi Clinic, a state-of-the-art healthcare facility designed to enhance patient care through modern, sustainable, and people-centred design.
Implemented by the JDA on behalf of the City’s Health Department, the clinic was designed as a compact, modern healthcare facility that prioritises efficiency, sustainability, and a welcoming environment for both patients and staff. With 20 consultation and counselling rooms, the clinic features a modern layout across four wings, including:
· Acute wing
· Chronic wing
· Mother & child wing
· Emergency services wing
The Mother & Child wing at Naledi Clinic plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of both mothers and their newborns. Pre-natal care (care during pregnancy) helps monitor the health of the mother and baby, detect potential complications early, and provide essential nutritional and medical support.
Post-natal care (care after birth) ensures that mothers recover well and receive guidance on breastfeeding, newborn care, and overall health, reducing the risk of complications such as infections or postpartum depression.
Close to 300 000 women lose their lives due to pregnancy or childbirth each year, while over 2 million babies die in their first month of life, and around 2 million more are stillborn.
The facility is also equipped with an infant incubator, which vital for premature or medically fragile newborns. It provides a controlled environment with optimal temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels, helping babies develop properly and reducing the risk of infections. This life-saving equipment ensures that vulnerable infants receive the care they need to grow stronger and healthier.
This specialised facility at Naledi Clinic is essential in improving maternal and child health outcomes, reducing infant mortality, and supporting healthier families in the community.
JDA CEO Themba Mathibe emphasised the importance of thoughtful design in enhancing healthcare delivery. “Infrastructure shapes how communities experience essential services. The design of the Naledi Clinic not only ensures operational efficiency but also creates an environment that promotes healing and well-being.
“By incorporating sustainability features such as solar power and rainwater harvesting, we are building facilities that are resilient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible.”
The Naledi Clinic is a significant step towards expanding quality healthcare services in Soweto and aligns with the vision for sustainable, people-centred development.
