A young woman suffering from COVID-19 gave birth in a Kanivu 108 ambulance while being taken to hospital. A 38 –year- old woman from Uppala, Kasaragod, gave birth in an ambulance. The woman was referred to Kasargod General Hospital for treatment and late to Kannur Pariyaram Medical College by doctors.
However, as the woman’s condition deteriorated during the journey, the ambulance staff arranged for delivery in the ambulance itself. The mother and baby were taken to hospital with excellent emergency care. The mother and baby, who were undergoing treatment at Pariyaram Medical College, were in good health, the medical college principal said.
Ambulance staff who rendered excellent service to the woman were felicitated by Health Minister K.K. Shailaja. Even after knowing that the patient was COVID-19 positive, the service rendered by the ambulance staff members was immense. She said such services provided by health workers during the COVID period were exemplary.
The incident took place around 7.20 am on August 13. A call was made to 108 to take a woman from Kasargod General Hospital to Kannur Pariyaram Medical College. Immediately, Kaniv 108 ambulance from Mulliyar Community Health Centre reached the spot. 108 Ambulance Emergency Medical Technician Robin Joseph and Pilot Anand John collected information from the doctor and then transferred the woman to the ambulance and started for Pariyaram Medical College. During the journey, the young woman experienced labour pains. Convinced of the need for the services of a female nurse, S. Sreeja, an emergency medical technician with Kaniv 108 ambulance, also got into the ambulance on the way.
By the time the ambulance reached Payyannur Kothayam junction, the woman’s condition had worsened. On examination Sreeja found that the lady could not go ahead without giving birth. The ambulance was stopped on the side of the road and the woman gave birth at 8.23 am under the care of emergency medical technicians Robin Joseph and Sreeja. Immediately, both mother and the child were given first aid and they ensured that the health condition of both was satisfactory. Soon they were taken to Pariyaram Medical College.
The woman was found to be COVID positive on antigen testing conducted the previous day. Based on this, 108 ambulance employees were sent with PPE. The maternity care was carried out by taking safety all precautions needed.
