Christmas babies: KZN Health MEC raises alarm over child and teen pregnancies
KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane visited hospitals on Christmas Day to welcome babies and to thank healthcare staff. She raised alarm about the number of young mothers.
Image: KZN Department of Health / Facebook
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane has raised serious concern about the alarmingly high rate of child and teenage pregnancy in the province, noting that 46 girls aged 10 to 19 gave birth on Christmas Day in health facilities across the province.
Providing an update on stats by 4pm on Christmas Day, Simelane said there were 183 babies joyfully welcomed in public health facilities across the province. Of these births, 80 were male and 103 were female.
During a visit to Ladysmith Provincial Hospital, MEC Simelane extended her congratulations to new mothers and healthcare workers on duty, commending staff for their continued commitment and professionalism during the festive season.
“While we celebrate the gift of life, we must also confront some deeply troubling realities,” said MEC Simelane.
“It is highly disturbing that among the mothers who gave birth today are children between the ages of 10 and 15. The number of 15-year-old mothers recorded this Christmas Day mirrors what we observed at the same time last year.”
The issue of child and teenage pregnancy has been acknowledged as a deepening crisis that is undermining the health, education, and future prospects of thousands of young people.
Data shared in early December from the eThekwini Municipality revealed that there were 7,627 deliveries among girls aged 10 to 19 in the 2024/2025 financial year, while more than 3,000 teenagers sought pregnancy termination services over the past five years.
The MEC said that there is an urgent need for intensified interventions, including strengthened sexual and reproductive health education, community awareness, parental involvement, improved protection of children from abuse and exploitation and stressed the need for the involvement of law enforcement authorities to deal with pedophilia rearing its ugly head in our communities.
The Department of Health reiterated its commitment to working closely with other government departments, communities, schools, parents, and civil society organisations to address teenage pregnancy and to ensure that young girls are supported, protected, and given opportunities to thrive.