UNMIL staff help woman deliver baby

31 Mar 2015

UNMIL staff help woman deliver baby

It was close to midnight, but Dr. Kabadi Gizenga and Wycliffe Kwikiriza, respectively UNMIL Regional Medical Officer and Security Officer for Maryland happened to be in the right place at the right time in Harper on 7 February.

“I was returning late from work when I stumbled on Dr. Kabadi close to the gate of my house,” Kwikiriza recalled. “We were having a chat when we heard the cries of someone calling out for help.”
 
The duo rushed down the alley to find a woman in the pangs of birth, alone and right there on the side of the road!
 
At first they were somewhat startled and apprehensive but were jolted into action when the woman started shouting: “Deh bebbee kameen … deh bebbee kameen!” (“The baby’s coming!”). Quickly the two impromptu midwives took out hand gloves from the First Aid kit in Kwikiriza’s car, rolled out a plastic sheet they found in the boot and went to work!
 
Unlike Dr Gizenga, Kwikiriza was truly shaken by the experience. “We had nothing even to spread on the ground other than the small plastic sheet, which could not take her whole body,” he said. Even so, Dr. Gizenga affirmed that the 28 year old was delivered of her baby without any obstacles.
 
“I attended to the woman, guiding her to push out the child as best as was possible in the circumstances,” he narrated. “Everything went well, including cutting of the umbilical cord. We also cleaned up the woman as best we could.”
 
By the time they were done, a few neighbours and passersby had gathered at the scene. “I simply advised the woman to proceed to the hospital for further attention, including proper documentation of the delivery.”
 
It really was one night of a kind, but the two gentlemen said they remain ready at all times to lend a hand to the community whenever the need arises.