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By Siphumelele Khumalo

Journalist


Gauteng delivers 167 babies between midnight and midday on New Year’s Day

The department of health said over 500 babies were born across the country between midnight and midday on Christmas Day.


The Department of Health has announced that public hospitals in Gauteng delivered a total of 167 babies between midnight and 12pm on 1 January 2023.

According to the department, academic hospitals delivered 15 babies and tertiary hospitals delivered a total of 25 babies.

“Academic hospitals delivered 15 babies mostly from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital with 7 babies, followed by Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital with 4 deliveries.

“Tertiary Hospitals delivered a total of 25 babies with Tembisa Hospital welcoming 20 babies and Kalafong Hospital with 5 deliveries,” said the department in a statement.

The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo – Ralehoko visited Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital on Sunday morning to welcome the newborn babies and to celebrate with their parents and also gift them.

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“We are encouraging all the mothers who have just delivered their bundles of joy to make use of the Department of Home Affairs offices that are in-house at our facilities to register their babies before going home.

“We are also encouraging them to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six (6) months, as breast milk contains all nutritional substances and antibodies babies need to grow and protect them from illnesses. They must also ensure that their little ones are immunised at regular ages in order to protect them against diseases such as polio, hepatitis, measles and meningitis,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.

The department of health said over 500 babies were born across the country between midnight and midday on Christmas Day, and majority of them were delivered in Gauteng.

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