As many marked the birth of Christ in churches, overnight vigils and parties, 33-year-old Claudine Sinaribanga welcomed a new member into her family with the help of nurses at Central University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK).

The first-time-mother brought to the world a baby girl weighing 3.6 kilogrammes at 2am. Although the baby is yet to be named, Sinaribanga said she will go for one associated with Christmas such as Noella.

"Doctors had projected that the baby was likely to be born around the 27th or 28th but the baby turned out to be a Christmas surprise. I feel the baby is special because of the meaning of the day she is born on,” the new mother said.

Sinaribanga, a social worker at Nyanza Health Centre, was surrounded by excited family members and relatives.

"She was the only baby born at Chuk and there is no doubt about her being special. Although we are still deliberating on the appropriate name, we will go for something ‘Christmassy,’” the newborn’s aunt, Henriette Imuhire, said.

Other hospitals around the country also welcomed Christmas baby bundles.

Dr Nenant Niyikiza, of  Muhima Hospital, confirmed there were 14 newborns, seven for each gender, at the hospital on Christmas Day.

At Kibagabaga Hospital, five boys and a girl were born on Christmas morning.

Bundles across the country

University Teaching Hospital of Butare in Southern Province welcomed two baby boys born on the morning of Christmas.

"At midnight, the first one was born and later in the morning the second one followed,” the director of nursing and midwifery, Naason Gasirimbi, said.

At Masaka Hospital in Kicukiro District, 10 babies were born on Christmas Day, including six girls, while Nyamata Hospital received four newborns.

Elsewhere in Northern Province, there were a total of 23 babies born in the hospitals and health centres visited.

Thirteen babies were born in Ruhengeri Hospital, 11 of whom were girls, and at Nemba Hospital in Gakenke District, three babies, including two boys, were born.

At Butaro Hospital in Burera, three baby girls and two baby boys were the bundles of the Christmas Day joy, while at Kinihira Hospital in Rulindo District, one woman was blessed with twins.

"It’s double celebrations being blessed with twin boys and on Christmas Day. I will definitely give them names that relate to Christmas. This year has ended well for me,” said Theodosie Uwimana.