Sekhukhune District leads new born babies’ stats during Festive Season
LIMPOPO
2023 New Year’s Day saw the birth of 193 babies in Limpopo Province at various healthcare institutions, with Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) leading the stats.
According to the Limpopo Department of Health (LDoH), fifty-nine babies were delivered on New Year’s Day in Sekhukhune District with 33 boys and 26 girls born in various healthcare facilities.
Neil Shikwambana, LDoH Spokesperson in the province, said a 2,9 kg girl was delivered in Mecklenburg Hospital at 00:01 and 3kg boy was delivered at St Rita’s Hospital at 00:08.
“We had a total of ten teenage mothers, with 16-year-old mother from Philadelphia Hospital in Dennilton also delivering a baby,” he said.
Shikwambana said a total number of 37 new babies were born in Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), 14 boys and 23 girls, with five teenage mothers aged between 15 and 18, delivering babies at Malamulele Hospital.
Shikwambana indicated that 43 babies were delivered in Mopani District, comprising of 19 boys and 24 girls.
“Nine teenage mothers aged 15, 16 and 17, delivered babies at Letaba Hospital,” he said.
He furthered said 27 babies were born in the Waterberg District, with 10 boys and 17 girls delivered at various health facilities and a baby girl delivered at Mokopane Hospital at 00:12, weighing 3503g.
He said two teenage mothers, with 15-year-old mother delivering a baby at George Masebe Hospital and 17-year-old mother giving birth at FH Odendaal Hospital.
“In Capricorn District, 12 boys and 15 girls making a total of 27 babies were born in various health institutions. The region has two teenage mothers, with a 14-year-old mother delivering from Mankweng Hospital,” he said.
Shikwambana said in total, 88 boys and 105 girls were born in the province recording 193 in total, less by 27 compared to 2022 where Limpopo recorded 215 new born babies at that time.
Meanwhile, Shikwambana said 217 babies were born on Christmas Day in Limpopo Province, wherein, for the first time the province was blessed with more boys than girls.
“We had a delivery of 118 boys and 99 girls on Christmas. While annual statistics for teenage mothers is decreasing, regrettably teenage mothers increased as compared to last year with four from 29 to 33, while overall deliveries decreased from 253 to 217. All mothers and their babies are doing well,” he said.
Shikwambana said the department urges mothers to exclusively breastfeed for six months and take their children for immunization, according to their immunization schedule. “Remember, our children’s health is our responsibility,” concluded Shikwambana.
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