By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu confirmed that as of 9 am on Saturday, the Province of KwaZulu- Natal had welcomed 33 New Year babies from healthcare facilities across the Province.
At the time of writing, the province has recorded the births of 14 boys and 19 girls and the number is expected to change as the day progresses.
“The province’s first New Year’s baby was born at Mosvold Hospital, under Umkhanyakude District, shortly after midnight. Interestingly, we have a set of twin girls who were born at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, to a 25 year-old mother, Ms Ziyanda Madikizela. The first twin arrived at 3am, weighing in at 2.05kg; followed by the second one two minutes later, who weighed 2.36kg,” said Simelane-Zulu.
She has also urged nurses and other healthcare workers to treat patients better in the new year.
Simelane-Zulu was speaking at an event welcoming babies born on New Year’s Day at Portshepstone Hospital in the province.
“For us in the public health sector, this is also a time to reflect on who we are, what we stand for, why we are where we are, and why we do what we do. On why we are nurses, doctors, and allied health workers,” she said.
“It’s a time for us to go back to respecting and treating each and every healthcare user that’s in front of us the way we would like our own parents and family members to be treated,” she added before addressing nurses and other healthcare workers.
“To those behind the counter and on the operating table at our clinics, CHCs and hospitals, our clients are not a nuisance that must be treated with disdain, and spoken to anyhow. They’re not just ‘an irritation’ that left home and came to us because they had nothing better to do. They’re here because they are not well and they’ve come to us because we are all that they have,” pleaded Simelane-Zulu.
She concluded by reminding nurses and other healthcare workers that being in the health sector is not just a job, but a calling.
Meanwhile Gauteng public healthcare facilities delivered 150 babies between midnight and 12:00 on 1 January.
The MEC for health, Nomathemba Mokgethi, visited Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg to welcome some of the babies, celebrate with the parents and to present some gifts.
According to the MEC’s spokesperson, Kwara Kekana, academic hospitals delivered 29 babies.
Tertiary hospitals delivered 19 babies – Kalafong Hospital delivered eight and Tembisa Hospital 11.
While visiting the new baby mothers, Mokgethi stressed that Covid-19 still existed and advised all pregnant and breastfeeding women to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families from severe illness.
“I want to take this opportunity to wish a happy and prosperous new year to all parents who welcomed their babies,” said Mokgethi.