I met Feza and her three-week-old baby, born safely and healthy at a public hospital in Johannesburg South. Feza was unable to pay the R15000 charged to give birth to her son. She is classified as a private paying patient because of her asylum status. After being discharged, the notice of birth she needs to be able to register her baby was not given to
her and is being withheld until she settles her account.
Feza explained that she and her husband still disagreed on a name for their child on the way to the hospital. They had both liked the name Faith, but wondered if it would suit a boy child. They soon realised that the language they both share is Swahili. Faith in Swahili is Imani, and so Imani was decided. Feza explained to me that she hopes Imani can
have the faith and patience to be in this challenging world and that she will be able to register his name to make life easier for him.
Birth registration is critical to a child's development and ability to access opportunities in the future. What does it say about our world when we deny children their rights as they enter into this world. Judge Halim Salduker said:
"Children are the soul of our society. If we fail them, then we have failed as a society."
As we reflected at the beginning of this week: Imagine having your baby's name, with all its meaning and presence in this world, and nowhere for their name to be legally recognised. How would you feel looking into the newness of your child's eyes, knowing that to register them legally means facing countless barriers?
Has this story made you think about the meaning of your own name, how you were given this name, and the importance of having your name legally recognised?
As we end this week of reflections, let us pray for each mother and child - as they bravely brought them into the world may they know God's presence in raising them.
Spend some time reading this blessing for mothers.
