Pretoria welcomes 31 newborns on Christmas day

Pretoria welcomed 31 newborn babies on Christmas Day at various health facilities in the metro area.

Out of 31 newborn babies, 20 were boys, and 11 were girls.

Gauteng Health Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the healthcare facilities in the province had helped give birth to about 194 babies.

According to Modiba, these newborns were born between 12h00 midnight and 12h00 in the afternoon on Christmas Day, 25 December 2023.

He furthermore said there were about 103 males and 91 females in total that were born on the day.

“Academic hospitals delivered 41 babies, with Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital accounting for 22 deliveries, followed by Steve Biko Academic Hospital with 07 babies.

“Tertiary Hospitals delivered a total of 20 babies, with Tembisa Hospital accounting for 16 and Kalafong for 04 deliveries,” the spokesperson added.

Modiba continued to say both Regional and District Hospitals delivered 81 babies while Community Healthcare Centres delivered 49 babies.

Meanwhile, the visibly excited MEC Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, congratulated all the mothers of the newborn babies.

Nkomo-Ralehoko urged the mothers of the newly-born babies to ensure that their babies are registered immediately after birth through the Department of Home Affairs offices across all Gauteng public hospitals.

“We would also like to urge parents to ensure that their bundles of joy are immunized at regular ages as set out in the Road to Health care booklet to protect them against diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis, measles, and meningitis.

“Immunisation is free at all public clinics and community healthcare centres in the province,” emphasised the MEC.

Furthermore, she encouraged mothers of newborn babies and infants between 0 – 24 months to continue breastfeeding as breastmilk is the optimal food source for babies and contains all nutritional substances.

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