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INDLOVUKAZI BLESSES XMAS BABIES WITH BLANKETS AND SHOES

By KWANELE SIBIYA | 2024-12-28

HER Majesty the Indlovukazi has through the Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula, gifted 69 babies who were born on Christmas day across the country's healthcare institutions.

The gifts comprised of baby swaddles and baby crocs, were hand-delivered by the minister at Mankayane Government Hospital and at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital on Christmas day, while at the other healthcare facilities, the gifts were distributed by officials from the ministry.

The gifts were not only received by mothers who gave birth on Christmas Day, but some of them, particularly baby crocs, were also given to mothers who gave birth a couple of days before Christmas day.

magical
Making his remarks during his visit at RFM hospital, the minister wished all the babies a wonderful, magical and joyous Christmas.

He congratulated the mothers for such a special honour and privilege of giving birth on Christmas Day.

He also appreciated the healthcare workers, particularly, the midwives for their unwavering commitment and dedication in ensuring that mothers who gave birth in the country's hospital did so in a safe environment and went back home safe after giving birth.

"Being a midwife is not a walk in the park," the minister said.
Matsebula further appreciated all healthcare workers and other workers in their different fields, for working on Christmas Day.

He mentioned that this year’s gifts to babies were very special because they were coming directly from Her Majesty Indlovukazi.

"Her Majesty the Queen Mother said all the babies born on Christmas day especially those at Kazondwako Clinic, should receive these gifts. This is because the socio-economic status of their mothers is not the same, as they cannot afford to buy even a baby swaddle.

However, we are very appreciative that even those mothers who could not afford one would today go back home with one, courtesy of Her Majesty Indlovukazi," the minister said.

humbled
He pointed out that as healthcare workers, they were also humbled by Her Majesty Indlovukazi's kind gesture.

He extended his plea to the country's healthcare workers to work cooperatively with the ministry in ensuring that they maintain this standard of giving gifts to babies born on the special day, which has been set for them by Her Majesty.

"I am pleading with all healthcare workers to collaborate with the ministry in ensuring that we maintain and not lower the standard that Their Majesties have set for us insofar as presenting gifts to babies born on Christmas Day is concerned," he said.

The Eswatini Nazarene Health Institutions (ENHI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mazwi Mavuso extended his heartfelt appreciation to Her Majesty for her kind gesture of at RFM hospital.

He said they were also grateful to the minister of health for acting swiftly under the Nkwe! Royal command to deliver the gifts after being sent by Her Majesty to do so.

"We are humbled and feel honoured at the same time by Her Majesty Indlovukazi’s benevolent gesture," Mavuso said.

He mentioned that in most instances, the majority of mothers at ENHI were less privileged and as such, were unable to cater for their newly born babies' needs.
He therefore, mentioned that the assistance from Her Majesty was greatly appreciated.

"We are so much greateful to Her Majesty for being mindful of these mothers.
Our special thanks also goes to the minister of health for adhering to their Majesties command of delivering the gifts to the babies," he said.

There were 69 babies that were born on Christmas day in the country's health facilities. Mbabane government had the most babies with 14 followed closely by RFM and Hlathikhulu Government hospital with 12 babies each.

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