Baby Reneilwe Mashitisho bawled in the hands of Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to announce her arrival on Earth.
Motsoaledi, a medical practitioner by training, led a team of surgeons who delivered Reneilwe. She arrived at 9.27am on Monday.
The birth of little Reneilwe was special in many respects. Globally, she would be counted among newborn babies whose births mean the world’s population now stands at 7 billion.
Even if the UN does not declare her the 7 billionth person in the world, Reneilwe still had a memorable birth.
She was delivered through caesarean section at Polokwane’s Mankweng Hospital Complex in front of rolling cameras.
Her mother Elizabeth could not hide her excitement about her bundle of joy despite her after-birth pains.
“I am so happy, and I want her to become a medical doctor one day because she was delivered by the minister,” said the 38-year-old mother.
Motsoaledi gave her the middle name of Aaronica.
“If she was a boy, I would be naming him Aaron,” said Motsoaledi.
Not only has Reneilwe pushed up the world’s population, her immediate family has also increased.
“I have two other children,” said Elizabeth, who is unemployed.
She hails from Dennilton near Groblersdal in Limpopo.
Her husband Oria works as a bus driver. “I feel so special that I am her father,” said Oria.
He admits that Reneilwe’s birth will add more strain on his finances, but says he is prepared for the challenge.
“I will use all my energy to ensure that she gets the best education,” said Oria.
Although Motsoaledi said the birth of Reneilwe should be celebrated, he was worried that the growing population posed a serious challenge to social services and the healthcare sector.
“Many sub-Saharan countries have put the issue of family planning aside – it’s not good. World resources are not infinite,” Motsoaledi said.
“Population explosion usually happens in poor countries,” the minister added.
He said married couples should also start considering family planning.
“We must remember that there is no way of planning a better life without family planning,” said Motsoaledi.
Mark Schreiner, a representative of the UN’s Population Fund, said world governments should fight gender inequality as the world’s population grows.
“But let us be clear, it is not a matter of space. The population question is one of equity, opportunity and social justice for all,” he said.
Schreiner said the population would continue to grow in the coming years. “And 13 years from now, when these babies are becoming adolescents, they will be seeing another billion added to our numbers,” he pointed out. - The Star