OTML charter plane rescues young mum
The National, Tuesday July 9th, 2013
QUICK response by Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML) charter services enabled a young mother in the Trobriand Islands of Milne Bay to safely deliver one of her twin babies.
Daisy Esron, 20, from Boitalu village in Losuia, gave birth to one of her twin babies at midday last Thursday at her village but she could not deliver the second baby because it was lying transverse with prolapsed arm.
The only health centre at the village could not carry out a caesarean operation as the centre was not equipped for surgery. And to make matters worse, it was a 12-hour ride by banana boat into Alotau town and the chances of the mother seeing her second twin alive were very slim.
A quick exchange of emails between Dr Toki Inina, chief medical services and director, clinical service at Tabubil hospital and OTML human resources manager Harold Duigu made it possible for Esron to get on OTML’s charter plane.
“The mother was pregnant with twins and she delivered the first twin about noon yesterday (last Thursday) in the villages and came to the health centre because she could not deliver the second,” Inina said last Friday.
“The second twin was lying with the arm being pushed back and the fetus was still alive and will need a caesarean section to deliver this child.”
Losuia district administrator Labui Bua confirmed the delivering of the first twins and said the mother was in a stable condition but needed urgent evacuation to Alotau hospital.
“I thank the (OTML) management, on behalf Erson and the health centre here at Lousia, for giving us the privilege for using the aircraft to uplift the patient.”
At about 2:32pm last Friday afternoon Esron was able to give birth safely to her second twin at Alotau hospital.
Tongia who performed the caesarean operation confirmed at 4pm that afternoon that the second twin was delivered but was not breathing normally.
It was confirmed yesterday that the second twin, a boy, weighed 2.304kg and was in stable condition and breathing on his own in the special care nursery.