- A young South African baby who was born with her heart outside has died, despite groundbreaking medical efforts at a Johannesburg hospital to save her.
According to the South African Health Ministry, baby Ashleigh Louw died this morning at the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital in Johannesburg, after a marathon operation. Only yesterday, a statement from the family had asked for prayers for the baby to pass on.
Baby Ashleigh was born on 9 January with a very rare condition - her heart protruding out of her chest. Her heart was only covered with a thin layer of skin. The baby underwent a major surgery to put her heart back into her chest when she was only a week old.
Media reports quoted a family spokesperson saying her condition recently deteriorated and was also recently diagnosed with pneumonia.
South Africa's Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi today - during his state visit to the United Kingdom alongside President Jacob Zuma - expressed "sadness" in a statement to the press. "The loss of such a young life is painful to all of us", said Minister Motsoaledi.
However, the Health Minister also emphasised on the ground-breaking efforts to save the baby's life at the Johannesburg hospital, demonstrating the internationally high standards of South Africa's health sector.
"On behalf of the Department of Health I wish to pay tribute to the team that worked hard in trying to save the little life that we have just lost," the Minister stated. "I am aware that they were dealing with a very complicated and rare condition and there is no doubt that they have made medical history in our country."
"We are always encouraged by the dedication of our healthcare workers to do their utmost even under the trying circumstances such as those faced by our hospitals. We are very proud of them," he added.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español