Image via: Adobe Stock
Gauteng Health Department: At least 150 babies born in New Year
Gauteng’s Health Department says the number of babies born in the New Year is likely higher, and will give updated figures
Image via: Adobe Stock
The Gauteng Department of Health says at least 150 babies were welcomed on New Year’s Day. The department says the figure is based on births that were recorded in public healthcare facilities on Saturday, 1 January 2022, between 00:00 midnight and 12:00 pm.
Gauteng Health MEC Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi this morning visited Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in the Johannesburg District on New Year’s Day to
welcome the newly born babies, and celebrate with their parents, as well as present them with some gifts, her office has said. Mokgethi has encouraged the new mommies to get themselves vaccinated.
“I want to take this opportunity to wish a happy and prosperous new year to all the parents who welcomed their babies. COVID-19 is still in our midst, we encourage all pregnant and breastfeeding women to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves and their families from severe illness, hospitalisation or death in the event that they contract the Coronavirus,”
Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi
MORE NEW YEAR BABIES LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN BORN
According to the Gauteng Department of Health, the number of babies born in the New Year is likely to be higher – more births are likely to have been recorded in public healthcare facilities between 12:00 pm and midnight.
“The above are numbers for the last 12 hours, the final statement will be released tomorrow which will be inclusive of all 24-Hour clinics as is the practice,” the department’s spokesperson Kwara Kekana said in a statement.
Academic hospitals were rather busy on New Year’s, having delivered 29 babies mostly from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital with 15 deliveries, followed by Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital with 8 deliveries. Tertiary Hospitals delivered a total of 19 babies with Kalafong Hospital delivering 8 and Tembisa Hospital with 11 deliveries.
Similarly, on Christmas Day, the department confirmed that 214 babies were born in public hospitals in the province. According to the Gauteng Health Department, academic hospitals delivered 45 babies mostly from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital with 25 deliveries, followed by Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital with 9 deliveries. Tertiary Hospitals delivered a total of 27 babies with Kalafong Hospital delivering 10 and Tembisa with 17 deliveries.
