admin
Herald Reporter
At least 87 babies were born on Christmas Day at three major hospitals in Harare and Chitungwiza.
Forty-two were born at Harare Central Hospital, 29 at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, while Chitungwiza General Hospital recorded 16.
Parirenyatwa Hospital’s acting matron, Rosa Dzvuke, said the number of babies delivered at the institution was 16 up from last year’s figure.
“We had 14 boys and 15 girls. I must admit it has been a very busy Christmas but we really thank God that no maternal deaths were recorded. Our first Christmas baby was born at 01:30,” she said.
Matron Dzvuke said the hospital recorded one set of twin girls.
The deputy matron at Chitungwiza General Hospital, Nyembezi Chamisa, said the institution recorded one death of a baby boy.
She said of the 16 deliveries, 10 were boys and six were girls.
Deputy matron Chamisa said their maternity ward was facing challenges, which included a shortage of gloves and blood.
“If a person is need of five units of blood, we end up giving that person two or three units which is not be enough but because of shortage there is nothing we can do,” she said.
Harare Central Hospital recorded 42 deliveries compared to last year’s 35.
Maternity matron Dade Pe- dzisai said the first baby arrived at 00:08 and one of the Christmas babies weighed a bouncing 4,4kg.
“Thirty-four were through normal delivery, while eight were delivered through Caesarian section and included a set of twins. Twenty of the babies were boys while the other 22 were girls,” she said.
The mothers who spoke to The Herald expressed delight at giving birth on Christmas Day.
Seven of them said they would name their children “Emmanuel”, which means “God is with us”.
Ms Fungai Muzoremba, who delivered a boy, said she expected a December 10 birth. She named the child Tafara.
Online Reporter
dyton mupawaenda