Gauteng Health MEC visits newborn babies at Baragwanath Hospital
The Gauteng MEC for Health also officially opened a newly expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Bara Hospital.
The Gauteng Department of Health is thrilled to announce that their public healthcare facilities delivered 203 babies – 105 males and 98 females – on New Year’s Day between midnight and 12:00.
The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, visited Bara Hospital to welcome the newly born babies and shower them with essential gift packages.
Academic hospitals in Gauteng delivered 31 babies and most are from Bara Hospital with 20 babies, followed by Dr George Mukhari Academic.
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Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital with four deliveries each.
Tertiary hospitals delivered 12 babies with Tembisa Hospital and Kalafong Hospital delivering six babies each.
The department urged all mothers to ensure that the birth of their newborn babies is registered with the Department of Home Affairs offices that are in-house at health facilities across the province.
Mothers are 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.
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“Similarly, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides essential nutrients and strengthens their immune systems,” said Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The MEC officially opened a newly expanded 12-bed 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 reduce chances of cross-infection.
