Johannesburg – At least 700 babies were born on Christmas Day.
The first Christmas baby was welcomed at Elim Hospital in Limpopo at midnight.
Tonga Hospital in Mpumalanga and Elizabeth Ross District Hospital in the Free State delivered the next babies at 00:02 am.
The Department of Health has announced that it joined mothers and families in welcoming 714 newborns delivered in public health facilities across the country between midnight and midday on Christmas Day.
“Parents are urged to invest in exclusive breastfeeding and child immunisation because they protect babies from preventable deadly diseases and improve survival, especially in the first months of life,” said Health Department Spokesperson Foster Mohale.
Strengthening maternal, neonatal, and child health services and ensuring that mothers and newborns receive dignified, safe, and quality care were among the commitments the department pledged.
Mohale said the department has also commended health workers across the country for ensuring the safety of mothers and newborns.
However, he said the department remains concerned about the continued scourge of teenage mothers, with more than 30 teen mothers recorded so far.
Several provinces have worringly recorded births by teenage girls as young as 15.
Mohale lamented that these children, who have become mothers, have to endure the demands of parenthood while still navigating adolescence.
Breakdown of births per province
*This is the total number of babies born between midnight and midday on Christmas Day in public health facilities in all 9 provinces. This number is subject to change as more births are being recorded throughout the day
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