By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@NkomoNomantu.
Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has congratulated parents of new-born babies who were delivered at public health facilities across the province.
The province has welcomed at least 194 Christmas babies at provincial hospitals.
“We have made a commitment as the Gauteng Provincial Government to ensure that our townships, informal settlements and hostels (TISH) communities are prioritised in all government programmes. These gift packs which include essentials such as nappies, wipes, bum creams, soap and bathtub, will go a long way in the first days to a month of the babies’ lives,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital delivered 22 babies,Steve Biko Academic Hospital – 7 babies, Tembisa Hospital – 16 babies, Kalafong, 4 babies, while regional and district hospitals delivered 81 babies and Community Healthcare Centres delivered 49 babies.
MEDIA STATEMENT || GAUTENG HEALTH WELCOMES 194 BABIES BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY pic.twitter.com/eOuvi7k6Hc
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) December 25, 2023
“We would also like to urge parents to ensure that their bundles of joy are immunised at regular ages as set out in the road to health care booklet to protect them against diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis, measles and meningitis. Immunisation is free at all public clinics and community healthcare centres in the province,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
Meanwhile at least 33 babies babies have so far been delivered in Limpopo, Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has confirmed.
Merry Christmas to you all as we welcome in the first 4hrs 33 new born babies 18boys &15girls. Mopane leading at 8.Our first Christmas baby, a girl weighs 1,9kg was delivered at 00h05, Malamulele hospital painfully and sadly so by a 15yr old. So far we have 10teens amongst 33moms pic.twitter.com/lddI6auOhi
— Dr Phophi Ramathuba (@PhophiRamathuba) December 25, 2023
According to the Health MEC, there were 18 boys and 15 girls born in the first hours of Monday, 25 December.
The Mopani district welcomed the most babies, with the figure standing at eight as per the preliminary statistics.
The first Christmas baby, a girl who weighed 1.9 kilogrammes, was delivered just after midnight at the Malamulele Hospital. The mother was only 15 years old.
Ramathuba indicated that among the people who gave birth were 10 teenagers, which she said was concerning.
She regarded this as statutory rape and urged community members to address teenage pregnancy.
Mpumalanga Health MEC Sasekani Manzini also confirmed the births of three babies at the Middleburg Hospital.
Additionally, eight babies were born at the Queen Nandi Hospital in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Njabulo Nzuza urged the mothers to register their babies as soon as possible.
“We are running a campaign for any birth registration where we have opened Home Affairs offices in hospitals to make sure that mothers can register the birth of children, “he said.