231 babies born on Christmas Day in Western Cape
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness announced that 111 boys and 120 girls were born in the province on Christmas Day, which amounted to 231 babies.
The first baby boy, Landon Matthew Joseph, weighed 2.48kg and was born at 12am on Monday December 25 at Mossel Bay Hospital to mother Nadine Joseph.
The second baby, Luphawo Twani, was born at 12.09am at Hanover Park Community Health Clinic to mother Andisiwe Twani. Luphawo weighed 3.14kg.
The third baby, a boy weighing 2.9kg, was born at 12.15am at Worcester Hospital to mother Rebekka Smit.
The department also said there were two sets of twins born on Christmas Day, one pair were born at Mowbray Maternity Hospital and the other at Tygerberg Hospital.
"As you begin this journey of parenthood, let us work together as society and government to ensure that our precious ones are given a strong and stable start to their lives," said Western Cape MEC of Health and Wellness, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo.
The department said the first 1 000 days of a child’s life, from conception, is important for their development.
The national Department of Health said the country`s public health facilities delivered 1 708 healthy babies on Christmas day as compared to 1 414 delivered last year.
The number consisted of 840 baby boys and 868 baby girls.
