COVID-19 positive woman delivers baby in ambulance in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 21 (PTI): A 26-year-old COVID-19positive woman gave birth to a baby girl in an ambulance onher way to a hospital in northern Malappuram district ofKerala onSunday, thanks to the presence of mind of emergencycare personnel.

The woman, a native of neighbouring Tamil Nadu, and hernewborn were doing well now, health department sources heresaid.

This is the third such instance of COVID-19 positivewomen giving birth in Kerala Ambulance Network for InjuredVictims (KANIV-108) vehicles.

State Health Minister K K Shailaja congratulated theemergency care staff of the ambulance who intervened in timeand provided expert care to save the lives of the mother andbaby.

According to health department sources, the woman wasadmitted to the Perinthalmanna General Hospital for deliveryin the morning.

As she was tested positive for the novel coronavirus,doctors directed shifting her to the Manjeri Medical CollegeHospital for expert care.

While on the way to Manjeri hospital in the ambulancewith the support of two emergency care staff, the womandeveloped labour pain.

The ambulance staff parked the vehicle on the wayside andmade arrangements for the delivery.

After she delivered a baby girl, they gave first aid andshifted the mother and the infant to the medical collegehospital at the earliest, health department sources added.

Earlier, in Malappuramand Kasaragod, coronavirusinfected women had given safe birth to babies while beingrushed to hospitals in ambulances.