Over 1 360 babies born at public health facilities across South
Africa on Christmas Day.
This figure represents approximately 300 fewer births than
the 1 708 babies delivered in 2023 and about 50 fewer than the 1 414 babies
born in 2022.
PICTURE: PixabayThe births included six sets of twins that were safely
delivered in public health facilities across the country.
The first Christmas baby was born exactly at midnight at
Osindisweni Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, followed by another delivery at 12:01 am
at Nkhensani Hospital in Limpopo.
Gauteng recorded the highest number of births at 393, followed
by Eastern Cape with 196 births, and both the Western Cape and Limpopo each
with 172 births.
According to the Department of Health, the number of teen
mothers has decreased from 145 in 2023 to just under 90.
‘’The department believes that the decrease in teenage
mothers may be due to several interventions, including Sexual and Reproductive
Health (SRH) programmes, a healthy lifestyle campaign, and the rollout of
youth-friendly zones in primary health facilities nationwide to create an
enabling environment for young people to access sexual and reproductive health
services without waiting in the queue with general patients,’’ said Foster
Mohale, Health Department spokesperson,
‘’The interventions are implemented in collaboration with
various stakeholders, including the Departments of Basic Education and Social
Development, the South African National AIDS Council, Higher Health, loveLife,
and Soul City,’’ he added.
Mohale says the aim is to increase the uptake of family
planning services, reduce stigma, and minimise unplanned pregnancies among
young people by promoting contraception methods.
The department urged mothers to immediately commence the
developmental journey of their newborns which entails immunization.
Done by: Mitchum George
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