Maternity wards in different hospitals across the North West province had a busy New Year’s Day, as the province welcomed 35 new babies.
Fourteen were born at the Bojanala district, nine at the Dr Kenneth Kaunda, seven at the Ngaka Modiri Molema and six at the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati.
The Departmental Spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said the first child, a boy, was born after midnight at the General Delarey hospital in Lichtenburg.
“The North West province has at 08h30 this morning already welcomed a total of 35 New Year babies, split between 23 males and 12 females.
“The first baby who is an African male arrived just after 00:00 midnight, which was 00:09 past twelve this morning at the General Delarey Hospital in the Ditsobotla local municipality, weighing at 3,5kg.
“We can report that the condition of the mother and the baby is stable. Health MEC Madoda Sambatha is at the Klerksdorp Hospital, where he is currently welcoming the new babies.
“As always Bojanala District Municipality is leading with 14 babies followed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda with 9 babies, Ngaka Modiri Molemo with 7 and Dr Ruth Mompati with 6 babies,’’ he said.
Lekgetwane said Sambatha congratulated the mothers for their newborns, their new blessings, and wished them a good health, blessed life going forward and emphasized the need for them to make sure that the babies attend the early treatment at the clinics. Further adding that the road to health card needs to be prepared immediately.
The department is also working hand in hand with Home Affairs to make sure that the babies are registered.
Some of the mothers who gave birth to their bundle of joy at the Moses Kotane Local Municipality said they are grateful to have given birth on New year’s day.
A 34-year old mother of four children, Putseni Charity gave birth at 00:25 to a baby boy, said she is grateful though she wasn’t expecting a New Year’s baby as her due date was on Thursday.
Another mother Montsho Moloi (32) said she is blessed to have given birth to a baby boy and thanked God for a healthy child.
Health MEC Sambatha is expected to welcome the new medical interns at the Klerksdorp Hospital in Matlosana. These are graduates of various medical studies who have been allocated to various hospitals across the Province for the internship and community service intake of the 2023 annual cycle.