By Staff Reporter
At least 650 babies were delivered in public health facilities across the country between midnight and 5pm on new year’s day, according to the Department of Health.
In the Eastern Cape, 118 babies were born – 56 of them boys and 62 girls. In Gauteng, 203 babies were born, comprising 105 boys and 98 girls. In the Western Cape, there were 13 girls and were 19 boys, and KwaZulu-Natal welcomed 131 babies.
A total of 24 babies born in the Free State, 19 in Limpopo, 67 in Mpumalanga, 41 in the North West and 19 in the Northern Cape.
One of the youngest mothers was a 12-year-old girl in the Eastern Cape.
Social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta visited Cecilia Makhiwane and Bhisho hospitals on New Year’s Day.
She said the “perpetrator who impregnated a 12-year-old [girl] must be found and jailed”.
“Whoever impregnates children, no matter who it is, is going to be jailed. We must stop this victimisation of children.
“We are worried because when children or young girls fall pregnant, their lives are never the same. In fact, conceiving at an early age poses significant health risks for the young mother and her unborn baby,” said Simelane.
Gauteng health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko visited Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto to welcome the newly born babies and give essential baby gift packages to the mothers.
Academic hospitals delivered 31 babies mostly from Chris Hani, followed by Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital with four deliveries each.
Tertiary hospitals delivered 12 babies. Tembisa Hospital and Kalafong Hospital delivered six babies each.
The department continues to urge all the mothers to ensure that their newly born babies are registered with the Department of Home Affairs offices that are in-house at health facilities across the province.
Mothers have also been encouraged to prioritise immunisation and exclusive breastfeeding to promote the development of infants.
“As we celebrate the arrival of new life, it is imperative to highlight the vital role of immunisation and exclusive breastfeeding in safeguarding the health of infants.
“All parents must prioritise immunisation to protect their children from preventable diseases. Similarly, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides essential nutrients and strengthens their immune systems,” she said.
The MEC also officially opened a newly expanded 12 bedded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that has been refurbished and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to provide high quality care to newborns in need of specialised care.
The NICU project is part of the department’s infrastructure programme to ensure that all neonatal units undergo the required upgrades to address overcrowding and reduces chances of cross infection.
INSIDE POLITICS
