Health on more baby boys born on Christmas Day in 2022

More baby boys born on Christmas Day in 2022

The Department of Health congratulates all the parents of 1414 babies born on Christmas Day this year, which consists of 746 males and 668 females and wishes them a long and health journey of life. The province of Gauteng accounts to 30% of the total number of babies born in this special day across the countries and this translates into 432 babies.

The number also consists of a set of triplets safely delivered at Middleburg Hospital in Mpumalanga by a 33 year-old mother. Amongst the teenage mothers include a 13 year-old mother who delivered a healthy baby from health facility in Buffalo city in the Eastern Cape.

All mothers and caregivers are reminded that the first 100 days after a baby is born, also known as the newborn stage, is important time for baby's earliest developmental milestones.
 
Good nutrition is also important for mothers and children’s health, hence it is recommended that mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies at least for the first six months to achieve the child`s optimal growth, development and health. 

It is for this reason that the department in collaboration with a number of stakeholders including UNICEF and Ilifa Labantwana, have embarked on child health programmes and campaigns such as Side-by-Side and MomConnect to support mothers and caregivers to secure an equal start for all children living in South Africa, through universal access to quality early childhood development.

Mothers are also reminded to ensure that their kids are registered for birth certificates with Home Affairs before the leave the health facility or within days after birth. 

Province             Males                        Females                   Grand Total 
EC                        112                            134                            246
MP                         92                              81                            174
LP                        118                              99                            217
NW                        57                              68                            125
FS                          65                              63                            128
GP                       217                             215                           432
WC                      122                               66                           188
NC                         22                               30                             52
KZN                       53                               46                             99
TOTAL                746                              668                        1414

For more information and media enquiries, please contact: 

Mr Foster Mohale - Health Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 0724323792
Email: Foster.mohale@health.gov.za

Mr Doctor Tshwale - Spokesperson for Health Minister
Cell: 063 657 8487
Email: Doctor.Tshwale@health.gov.za