A TOTAL of 95 babies, 48 girls and 47 boys, were born in hospitals across KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, 1 January.
National Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and KZN premier Sihle Zikalala visited the King Dinizulu Hospital in Asherville where they handed out gifts to mothers and their newborns. Mkhize said he was pleased that the babies born on new year’s day had received birth certificates just hours after being born.
He said the department was putting this service in place in a number of hospitals and when the National Health Insurance was instituted, these children would be registered at birth and their parents would be part of a national register.
At Ahmed Al-Kadi Private Hospital, three mums gave birth to new year’s babies. South Beach resident, Jacinta Bah’s bundle of joy, Moosa Mohammed Bah, was born first, at 1.58am, weighing 3.4kg.
He was born naturally and arrived a tiny bit later than his mum thought he would.
“I saw the doctor last week at 39 weeks and then returned to the hospital on 31 December for a check-up. I was told to come back later, and when I arrived at eight that night, I was admitted as I was in labour. I thought Moosa would come earlier, still that night, but he arrived the next morning. I feel blessed that he was born on 1 January,” said Jacinta.
Moosa is Jacinta’s fourth child. Her daughter is 24-years-old and is studying in Canada, her son, who will be 18 on 10 January, plays for the AmaZulu Football Club in the U19 age group, and attends CURRO School, and her third born, also a son, is two-and-a-half-years old.
She said so far Moosa has been a good baby. “All my babies have been quiet, although I am not sure how long it will last! I feel at home in hospital, but I am looking forward to getting home,” she said.
Jacinta’s husband, Billoh Mohammed, is out of the country at the moment, but she said he is a hands-on father and was looking forward to getting back to see his new son.
Speaking about her dreams for Moosa’s future, Jacinta said she wished him all the best in his life.
“I hope he will focus on his prayers before he does anything in life, and always puts Allah first. Moosa is already a star, having come into the world on new year’s day!” she said.
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Parents Collin and Keson Gounden welcomed their baby boy into the world at 5.15pm on 1 January, weighing in at 3.1kg.
The couple said they hadn’t decided on a name for their son and were giving it a lot of thought.
“I’m very happy our baby was born on 1 January,” said Keson, who said they had been given varying due dates.
“In Thailand, we were told he would arrive on the first, at another check-up we were told the third, my prediction was the second, and another doctor said between the third and the fifth, so we are glad to have had our son born on the first!” said Collin, who has another child aged 30, adding that he was just grateful that their child was healthy.
Collin said his son was very peaceful, and said he attributed this to the fact that he had been born naturally, and had already been through that ‘hardship’ and was now being quiet to make up for it. “My hope for our son is that we can bring him up in a way that he deserves, and that he will become a moral and righteous person,” he added.
Fathima Akoob and Shahid Valli are the proud parents of the third baby born at the hospital on 1 January, another baby boy, weighing in at 2.9kg.
JMH City Hospital delivered its first 2020 New Year’s baby at 5.50am on Wednesday. Proud mother Seanne Simone was thrilled with the arrival of her healthy son.
There were six 2020 new year babies delivered at the hospital.
Two babies were also born at Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital on 1 January.
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