Dr Ekete (left) and mother of Baby Success inside tricycle
The New Year is when celebrations are at their peak, but for Dr. Ogochukwu Ekete, it was a departure from the norm when she assisted a pregnant woman in labour to deliver a baby boy inside tricycle. Paul Obi writes
Beyond the burn fires, fireworks and religious gathering to usher in the New Year, it was also a day the family of Engr. Fred and Dr. Ogochukwu Ekete chose to visit family members. On January 1, everything happened coincidentally for the Eketes. The location was Nkwo Nike, Enugu, where the Eketes had gone to visit their mother-in-law nearby Iji Nike Cottage Hospital in Enugu East Development Council.
Metres away from the hospital, a man had dashed into the hospital gaping for breath, shouting for help for his pregnant wife who was about to put to birth. Regrettably, there was no healthcare official inside the cottage hospital at the arrival of Keke NAPEP (Tricycle) with a pregnant woman about to put to birth and this drew the attention of Dr. Ekete who quickly intervened. The couple, Mr. Sunday and Mrs. Ndidiamaka Oge, THISDAY learnt are from Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State but they reside in Ibagwa Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area.
When THISDAY contacted Dr. Ekete, she narrated her experience, stating that "it was all about safety" adding, "I saw her in the Keke, it was obvious she was about putting to birth. The next help could be far away," Ekete explained.
"So I decided to intervene. First, she was unconscious, so I demanded for gloves. I paused and asked her where is your bag? Ordinary, she was supposed to have a bag. She then said that she was due in two weeks time, unknown, the timing was not correct, as she was already due for delivery."
As it dawned on Dr. Ekete, that it was an emergency situation that needed prompt intervention, signs of delivery became obvious. Seconds later, the baby started to push out inside the Keke. "After she delivered the baby boy at 6.30pm, I cut the placenta, and then gave her the injection to stabilise her," Ekete said.
With the delivery of the baby over the Oges quickly left. Recent efforts by Dr. Ekete and her husband to trace the family, was not fruitful. It was after one week of the incident that Dr. Ekete was able to locate the mother and her new born baby. Speaking on her experience, Dr. Ekete stated that it is crucial for pregnant women to take prenatal care seriously. She explained that "in obstetrics, even if it is 33 weeks, you don't have to stay. In this case, it is from the way she understands it," the Cardiologist told THISDAY.
She advised that there should be efforts by government and stakeholders to encourage pregnant women to choose healthcare facilities closer to them. Ekete was of the view that a practical way of addressing poor cases of maternal - child health is putting all pregnant women under close watch. That, clinical observation can be carried out, and if need be, emergencies are as well tackled. All efforts to speak with the Oges family proved abortive, as they could not be reached for comments.
Further, much as there are medical doctors like Dr. Ekete, who are ready and willing to put the Hippocratic Oath in to practice - of saving lives, government shoddiness to maternal - child is still at alarming rate. Beyond mere policies formulated in Abuja and states' capitals, child birth remains a turbulent and painful experience among women.
This is worsened by the poor policy implementation in healthcare service delivery across the states. Like in this case in Nkwo Nike, few kilometres from Enugu metropolis, pregnant women constantly sweat it out to give births. Again, the lack of intervention programmes in most states compound the problems of pregnant women.
For example, if Mrs. Ndidiamaka Oge had the resources to foot her medical bills, chances are that she and her baby, Success would not have gone through such ordeal. If the Enugu State government where she resides had special programme for pregnant women, the Oge family would have been spared the unnecessary pains of trying to bring Success to this world. Likewise, if Ebonyi State where she comes from had such programme, at least, the Oges would have sorted for better and improved medical services to joyfully deliver their new baby. Sadly, maternal - child health may likely not be a front burner issue in the two states - as compare to Security Votes of the governors.
For all the talk about universal health coverage, through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) state government are yet to put in any concrete steps to ensure that their citizens are given the best of medical and health services. As this incident and the birth of Success portrayed, not much can be said of standard and efficient health facilities outside most states' capitals. Villages and rural areas are still left to their own fate healthwise. It is one risk Nigeria must wake up to address.
Adding to this plight is that lip service continues to be the order of day on health care sector across most states. The price is that only the poor, like the Oge family are left to face the brunt. The rich will always fly abroad to treat headache. Regrettably, Baby Success will grow to hear the sordid circumstances surrounding his birth - that the state failed him. To keep hope alive, Baby Success can only look up to the Good Samaritan in Dr. Ekete, to thank his stars.
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