Moms giving birth at Melomed Richards Bay have access to instant birth registration which is offered as part of the hospital’s Melobabes maternity programme. The Department of Home Affairs has an office at the hospital to assist parents with the registration process. Whenever there is a birth at Melomed Richards Bay, the hospital contacts Home Affairs, which then sends an official with the necessary documentation to the hospital to register the birth.

Parents are to ensure they have their ID and the PB24 form – a notice of birth completed by Melomed, confirming the birth occurred at the facility. An unabridged birth certificate is then printed and given to the mother – and all of this takes place before mother and baby are discharged! This means parents no longer have to queue with their newborns to register their new bundle of joy. It is a wonderful convenience, and safeguards infants from potential exposure to Covid 19, tying in with the hospital’s infection prevention initiatives.

The service is only available to mothers who deliver at Melomed Richards Bay and who are registered for the Melobabes programme. Mothers-to-be can register for the Melobabes programme at www.melomed.co.za

Testimony by Dr Jayeshnee Moodley, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 

As you know, I’m on maternity leave and we recently delivered our baby boy. It’s been a whirlwind ride, but so, so worth every second!

Today I had the pleasure of having a 10-minute birth registration process! Yup, 10 minutes! One of the many perks of delivering at Melomed Richards Bay is that Home Affairs registers all babies delivered at the facility right outside our maternity doors.

The process was so incredibly easy. I literally walked into an air-conditioned, hospital-grade sanitised office, was met by Xolani from Home Affairs, and left with a smile 10 minutes later. My baby did not have to accompany me and if you are still recovering in the maternity unit, the maternity staff will literally let you know when it’s your turn, and your partner can register baby right from your hospital bed.

Every new family needs ‘hassle-free’, and this exclusive service is just that!

More information is available on the Melomed website or you can chat to our maternity unit manager Sr Mthiyane, or the PRO Palesa. All the best to you and yours!