Bundles of Christmas joy, but teen moms worry MEC

MATERNITY wards throughout South Africa were kept busy on Christmas Day welcoming more than 480 bundles of joy.

Gauteng recorded most births at provincial hospitals, with 213 new arrivals — of 110 boys and 103 girls. Chris Hani Baragwanath had the highest number of deliveries — 51 — followed Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Coronationville with 28, which included the province’s only twins.

Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela in Mpumalanga welcomed 37 babies.

The Western Cape saw the arrival of 160 babies — 81 boys and 79 girls. The hospital with the highest number of deliveries was Mowbray Maternity Hospital, where 11 boys and 15 girls were born.

In KwaZulu-Natal, provincial hospital health workers had their hands full delivering 76 babies — 11 of whom were born to teenage girls.

KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo visited one hospital in Chatsworth, delivering gifts of clothing and nappies to the mothers — along with a sexeducation lecture. He said he was excited to welcome the newborns, but concerned about the number of teenage mothers.

They included a 14-year-old who gave birth at St Appolonaris; two 15year-olds who gave birth at Lower Umfolozi War Memorial and Murchison Hospitals respectively; and a 16-year-old whose baby was born at Mosvold Hospital.

Dhlomo said the government encouraged people to abstain from sex for as long as possible, until they were physically and psychologically ready to deal with its consequences.