Two sets of twins are included in the feat of 83 babies born during the Easter weekend at the various Free State Department of Health facilities.
Twins were born at the Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein and the Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department, said the twins at Boitumelo were a boy and a girl, while those born at Universitas were girls. He said the twins were doing well after being placed in the intensive care unit. Both sets of twins were born on Friday (07/04).
Mvambi said the twins born at the Boitumelo Hospital, the boy and girl, were the children of Sarah Mokhothing from Kroonstad.
He confirmed the tally of all Easter born babies was 83 – 42 females and 41 males.
“The MEC of Health Mathabo Leeto has commended the staff at the various health facilities ensuring the safe delivery of the 83 babies during the Easter holiday, thus avoiding any infant mortality in the province,” said Mvambi.
He said Leeto had also expressed joy about the babies born in the different public health facilities of the province.
According to Statista, the infant mortality rate in South Africa decreased to 26,4 deaths per 1 000 live births since the previous year. As a result, the infant mortality rate in the country saw its lowest number in 2021 with 26,4 deaths per 1 000 live births.
The infant mortality rate for South Africa in 2022 was 24,306 deaths per 1 000 live births, translating to a 2,93% decline from 2021.
The infant mortality rate for South Africa in 2021 was 25,039 deaths per 1 000 live births, a 2,84% decline from 2020.
Mvambi said the Bongani Regional Hospital in Welkom recorded the highest number of births, 21 in total; followed by Boitumelo with 11 and the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein with nine births.
The Elizabeth Ross Hospital in Qwaqwa and the Fezi Ngubentombi Hospital in Sasolburg each registered five births.
Mvambi said births were registered across the 21 hospitals in the province.
