Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, will join mothers in celebrating the arrival of their newly born bundles of joy and officially open the newly expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital on Wednesday.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Soweto based hospital has undergone major upgrades to increase its capacity from 18 to 30 beds, providing an additional 12 beds to better accommodate newborns in need of specialised care.
“The MEC will also engage with the parents about the importance of registering their babies immediately after birth at the Department of Home Affairs offices located in all Gauteng public hospitals. Furthermore, the MEC will highlight the significance of timely immunization to protect children from preventable diseases,” said the Gauteng Department of Health ahead of the MEC’s New Year’s Day visit.
Last week, the Department of Health announced that over 1 360 babies were safely delivered at public health facilities across the country on Christmas Day.
This figure represents approximately 300 fewer births than the 1 708 babies delivered in 2023 and about 50 fewer than the 1 414 babies born in 2022.
READ | Public health facilities deliver over 1360 Christmas babies
The births included six sets of twins that were safely delivered in public health facilities across the country. -SAnews.gov.za
