A LIMPOPO woman has expressed joy after Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi helped her give birth at Mankweng Hospital yesterday.

Delighted Elizabeth Mashitisa, 38, of Dennilton, delivered a healthy baby girl by Caesarean section. The baby was named Refilwe Aronica Mashitisa.

That came after Motsoaledi named her Aronica because he was one of the three doctors who helped the mother give birth as a celebration of the occasion of the world's population reaching 7-billion.

Mashitisa said she was very happy when the minister himself conducted the operation on her.

Unemployed Mashitisa has two other children - Tsegofatso, 13, and Kamogelo, 11.

Her husband Oria is a driver at Putco.

"I am delighted because my new baby girl Aronica is healthy," said Mashitisa.

The observer and head of department of obstetrics and gynaecology in Limpopo, Dr Davhana Nesengani, said he was happy because all went well during the operation, and the mother was also fine.

"It is a huge honour to have been joined by Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi for the operation," Nesengani said.

Motsoaledi said the operation was part of his job as he had conducted many in the past, even last year in Gauteng.

The minister said teenage pregnancies and abortions were problematic because young people were practising unsafe sex. This had led to many young women dumping their babies.

"If you planned how many children you want, it also helps the government to plan for education, houses and other social services," Motsoaledi said.

"Our records show that 700,000 women have aborted their babies in our hospitals."