KWAZULU-NATAL Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo has urged all pregnant mothers to attend antenatal clinics according to schedule, to ensure any potential health risks are detected early for themselves and their unborn babies.
MEC Dhlomo was speaking at King Edward VIII Hospital, where he also announced that 70 babies were born on Christmas Day in KZN. There were 38 boys and 32 girls. In the true spirit of Christmas spirit, MEC Dhlomo and acting Head of Department, Dr Musa Gumede handed gifts – including baby clothes, nappies and blankets – to four mothers and their Christmas Day babies at the hospital.
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MEC Dhlomo expressed concern during his visit at King Edward VIII Hospital after he learned that one of the mothers had never attended an antenatal clinic and therefore was not been booked in to deliver her baby.
“That is not a good story to tell because in this province we want to make sure that mothers deliver healthy babies. [Not attending antenatal clinics] makes the delivery very risky. Antenatal clinics should be a non-negotiable, because when we know your condition as a mother, when we detect any challenges early, even if you are HIV positive we can guarantee your safety and that of your baby,” said MEC Dhlomo.
He also called on young people to either abstain from sex or use dual protection (a combination of condoms and female contraceptive methods) in order to avoid unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. MEC Dhlomo also called on festive season revellers to consider giving the most precious gift of them all at this time: donating blood.
A regular blood donor himself, MEC Dhlomo said: “I have been in contact with the South African National Blood Service, and they have enough blood stocks to last two and a half days. We therefore wish to call on all South Africans, even if you are here on holiday, to make sure you donate a pint of blood. With so many people visiting our province, incidents may happen where people may end up needing blood. So, the blood that you donate could actually save lives. That is the most precious contribution that you can make.”
