The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, today congratulated parents of new-born babies who were delivered at public health facilities across the province. About 194 babies were born between 12h00 midnight and 12h00 in the afternoon on Christmas Day, 25 December 2023.
The MEC this morning visited Sebokeng Regional Hospital where she presented visibly excited mothers of newly-born babies with gifts and celebrated with them as they welcomed their bundles of joy.
She said that it was fitting to celebrate and shower the mothers with gifts containing essentials for babies given that Sebokeng Hospital serves a large number of indigent communities from townships, informal settlements and hostels (TISH).
“We have made a commitment as the Gauteng Provincial Government to ensure that our TISH communities are prioritised in all government programmes. These gift packs which include essentials such as nappies, wipes, bum creams, soap and bathtub, will go a long way in the first days to a month of the babies’ lives,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
Academic hospitals delivered 41 babies with Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital accounting for 22 deliveries, followed 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. Regional and District Hospitals delivered 81 babies while Community Healthcare Centres delivered 49 babies.
The MEC also 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 immunised 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 MEC Nkomo- Ralehoko.
In addition, the MEC encouraged mothers of new-born babies and infants aged between 0 – 24 months to continue breastfeeding as breastmilk is the optimal food source for babies, and contains all nutritional substances and antibodies they need to grow and protect them from illnesses.
The above are numbers for the last 12 hours, the final update will be release on Tuesday, 26 December 2023 which will be inclusive of all 24-Hour clinics as is the practice.
Motalatale Modiba, Head of Communication
Cell: 064 803 0808
E-mail: healthmediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za
Tshepo Shawa, Spokesperson for the MEC for Health
Cell: 072 222 6333
E-mail: Tshepo.Shawa@gauteng.gov.za
