THE WORLD’S seven billionth baby has been born in a packed government-run hospital in the Philippines.
Weighing 2.5kg (5½lb), Danica May Camacho was chosen by the United Nations to be one of several children around the world who will symbolically represent the global population milestone.
She was delivered just before midnight on Sunday amid an explosion of press camera flashes at Manila’s Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital.
“She looks so lovely,” her mother, Camille Dalura, whispered softly as she cradled her tiny newborn. “I can’t believe she is the world’s seven billionth.”
Danica is a second child for Camille Dalura and Florante Camacho.
The accuracy of the projection has been questioned, with some groups arguing that the figure is more likely to be reached next year.
UN officials nevertheless presented the baby and her parents with a small cake.
The family also received a scholarship grant for Danica’s education from wellwishers and some money to help them open a shop.
Previous children picked out at birth by the United Nations to mark world population milestones have complained that the international body forgot about them later in life.
Both Adnan Nevic (12) of Bosnia Herzogovina, the sixth billionth baby, and Matej Gaspar (24) from Croatia, who was number five billion, have complained that the UN chose them at birth then largely ignored them.
“We saw Kofi Annan as almost like a godfather to him,” said Adnan’s father, Jasminko.
Adnan said: “He held me up when I was two days old but since then we have heard nothing from them.”
The UN Population Fund hopes to raise awareness about reproductive health, women’s rights and inequality through the campaign.