A total of 11 new-born babies were welcomed in Katima Mulilo on New Year's Day.

Of the 11, the Katima Mulilo State Hospital welcomed five male and five female babies, while the Enkehaus Private Hospital welcomed a baby girl.

At the state hospital, the first child, a baby girl, came in at around 7:30 in the morning, weighing 3,3 kg.

The last was a baby girl delivered through an operation at 21:30 with a weight of 2.3 kg.

All newborns and their mothers are reported to be in perfect condition.

A waiting shelter for expectant mothers and newborns was inaugurated at the Katima Mulilo clinic in the Zambezi Region.

The shelter is financed by the Social Security Commission and can accommodate 80 expectant mothers at a time.

It has an indoor and outdoor kitchen, courtyards, and a multi-purpose room to be used by mothers for crafts and other activities.

Inaugurating the facility, former First Lady and Patron Penehupifo Pohamba said the shelter will help vulnerable mothers who are often left to explore unsafe options.