140 000 children born in 10 months
06/03/2014 03:00:00Stories by Winile Masinga
imageNUMBERS: Minister of Home Affairs Princess Tsandzile.
IT literally rained children in the country last year.Close to 140 000 children were born in the country in a space of 10 months.
This is according to the ministry of home affairs’ performance report tabled by the Minister, Princess Tsandzile, in parliament. The report is currently being debated by the ministry’s portfolio committee.
In the report, it is stated that 139 875 birth registrations were made in 10 months.
These statistics were recorded from the various regional offices. They are based in Mbabane, Manzini, Pigg’s Peak, Hluti, Siphofaneni, Hlatikulu, Nhlangano, Siteki, and Mankayane. However, the figure could be way above this because some families still prefer to have relatives give birth at home.
The recorded figures concern people who gave birth mainly in hospitals and those who after giving birth registered their children.
There are still people in the country who do not register their children. The country’s population stands at around 1.2 million but indications are that it may have increased by now. In the same report, the ministry reported that 12 949 deaths were recorded in the same number of months. This reflects a difference of 126 926 between the death and birth registrations.
The Hhohho region recorded a high number of births compared with the rest. There is the Mbabane centre that recorded 34 436 and Mbabane BMDS that had 21 931. In the Lubombo region, the Siteki centre recorded 18 161 and Manzini recorded 14 574 while Pigg’s Peak recorded 11 796. The Hhohho region also took the lead in the deaths section.
Mbabane centre recorded 3 085 while Mbabane BMDS stood at 2 645.
The statistics are as follows:
Station Death Registration Birth Registration
Mbabane 3 085 34 436
Mbabane BMDS 2 645 21 931
Pigg’s Peak 957 11 796
Manzini 2 082 14 574
Mankayane 316 5971
Siteki 1 430 18 161
Siphofaneni 1 075 11 049
Nhlangano 1 583 13 120
Hlatikulu 251 3171
Hluthi 482 5666
