The national birth rate rose last year for the first time in 12 years compared with the year before when Covid-19 broke out.

According to the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) annual report, the national birth rate rose by 6.5 per cent in 2021, when compared to 2020, with 60,551 babies being born last year.

This is the first time the birth rate has increased since 2009, the report adds. It is 14,000 fewer births than in 2011.

The report also said that at the end of 2021, 10 Maternity Hospitals and 405 GP services were providing or administering abortions.

Citing the second annual report of the Department of Health on the provision on abortion, it said a total of 6,577 abortions were carried out under the country’s abortion legislation in 2020.