By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Department of Health congratulated all the parents of 1414 babies born on
Christmas Day this year, which consisted of 746 males and 668 females and wishes them a
long and health journey of life.
The province of Gauteng accounts to 30% of the total number of babies born in this special day across the countries and this translates into 432 babies.
The number also consists of a set of triplets safely delivered at Middleburg Hospital in Mpumalanga by a 33 year-old mother.
Foster Mohale,
Health Departmental Spokesperson said amongst the teenage mothers includes a 13 year-old mother who delivered a healthy baby from health facility in Buffalo city in the Eastern Cape.
He said all mothers and caregivers were reminded that the first 100 days after a baby is born, also known as the newborn stage, was important time for baby’s earliest developmental milestones.
“Good nutrition is also important for mothers and children’s health, hence it is recommended
that mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies at least for achieve the child`s optimal growth, development and health.
“It is for this reason that the department in collaboration with a number of stakeholders including UNICEF and Ilifa Labantwana, have embarked on child health programmes and campaigns such as Side-by-Side and MomConnect to support mothers and caregivers to secure an equal
start for all children living in South Africa, through universal access to quality early childhood
development.
“Mothers are also reminded to ensure that their kids are registered for birth certificates with Home Affairs before the leave the health facility or within days after birth,” said Mohale.
Provincial Breakdown:
EC = 246
MP = 174
LP = 217
NW = 125
FS = 128
GP= 432
WC = 188
NC = 52
KZN = 99
TOTAL = 1414
It’s not all mothers who embrace their offspring when born.
Sowetan Live reported on the 21 December 2022 about a KwaZulu-Natal woman who was arrested for allegedly stabbing her newborn baby to death after giving birth in a shopping centre toilet.
The incident occurred on the 20th December.
IPSS Medical Rescue’s Samantha Meyrick said paramedics were on the scene at a shopping centre in the Sundumbili area.
“A call was received after a woman had apparently given birth in the toilets at the centre. On arrival of paramedics, a woman was found holding the body of a dead baby.
“On investigation it was confirmed the woman had given birth to the baby in the shopping centre toilets but had then apparently stabbed the baby to death with an unknown object,” she said.
