175 babies born on Christmas
Mr Nelson Tugume, the chief executive officer of Inspire Africa, and his wife Atukunda, admire their new born baby girl at Nakasero hospital on Christmas Day. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE.
What you need to know:
At least 119 babies were born in Kampala hospitals.
Kampala
Hospitals in Kampala District have registered the largest number of babies born on Christmas Day, according to a mini-survey done by this newspaper. Out of the 175 babies recorded countrywide, Kampala hospitals had 119 babies. Out of these, 58 were girls and 61 boys.
Mulago National Referral Hospital recorded the highest number of babies with 66 births, including four sets of twins. Mulago hospital’s spokesperson Enock Kasasira said: “Out of the total of 66 babies born in Mulago, 36 were boys while 30 were girls.” He noted that all the babies and mothers were in good health.
In Mengo Hospital 21 babies were born while seven babies were born in Nsambya hospital. Kibuli Hospital recorded six births while six babies were born in Case Clinic.
At Nsambya Police Barracks Hospital, three babies were born, Kiswa recorded five babies, Novik and St Catherine had two and three babies respectively.
One of the new fathers, Mr Charles Okwi, a Criminal Investigations Department officer at Old Kampala Police Station, said: “I spent the whole night praying to God for my wife to give birth today, thank God, she did exactly that. I am delighted but blessed.”
Similarly, Mr Benjamin Natumanya, 30, whose wife delivered a baby boy in Kibuli Hospital, could not hold back his joy. He said: “Regardless of the hard delivery period my wife has undergone, there is no other gift one can receive on a Christmas day than this long lasting reminder of a baby.”
Kabarole was the second highest district with 22 births recorded on Christmas, followed by Jinja with 16 babies; Kasese recorded 14 births and Adjumani had four births. A senior official at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital expressed delight that no deaths of mothers or babies were registered.
Ms Rosemary Nyakaisiki, one of the mothers who delivered her baby at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, said she would name her son Emmanuel to glorify God. “I am happy to have a baby on this day, indeed God is with us so I will name him Emmanuel for what I have gone through and finally delivering normally” Ms Nyakaisiki said.
