On Sunday, 25 December 2011, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health welcomed twenty-seven (27) bundles of joys born between midnight and 06h00 on the Christmas morning during his visit to Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. The MEC decried the high incidence of teenage mothers each year he visits mothers who had given birth to new citizens over the Christmas day.
“We are proud to welcome the new citizens born on Christmas Day,” said MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo as he congratulated the mothers of Christmas babies at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. “So far we have twenty seven (27) babies, fourteen boys and thirteen girls. Of these two were born to girls younger than eighteen years of age; one fifteen year old at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial and the other seventeen year old at GJ Crookes Hospitals.”
In the province the first baby came at a minute after midnight (00h01); a 2,8 kg male baby at Northdale Hospital. A minute later, at two minutes past midnight (00h02), a 3,6kg baby girl was born at Addington. The third baby girl (3,2kg) was born at Newcastle hospital at five minutes past midnight (00h05).
The MEC told the overjoyed parents that a twinkle of a child's eye, the joy of a grandmother's laughter, and the love in the hearts of mothers and fathers for their children are all blessings that should be unwrapped on Christmas morning and then lived throughout the year.
He however decried the high incidence of teenage pregnancy in the province and said it is a challenge that everyone must tackle. He announced that the Department of Health has put up billboards, throughout the province, to warn against the dangers of teenage Pregnancy. “We are warning young girls that having sexual relations with older men results in pregnancy and AIDS. Last year while visiting GJ Crookes Hospital on Christmas Day I met a sixteen year old teenage mother. This cannot be accepted as normal as these are high risk pregnancies that threaten the lives of the teenage mother and/or the new-born baby.”
MEC Dhlomo added; “The answers lie in building our collective resolve to ensure universal access to essential teenage health services and proven, life-saving interventions especially family planning.”
The MEC thanked the health professionals for working tirelessly throughout the festive season and ensuring that no woman died while giving birth nor a baby dying immediately after delivery.
