Pakwach: Expectant mothers cautioned against long  distance travels after woman delivers in a bus

By Mike Rwothomio

Some medical experts in Pakwach District have advised expectant mothers against long distance travels, warning  of it’s associated risks.

This after a woman identified as  Proscovia Awacango, delivered  a baby  on  board a baby  Coach bus at  Pakwach town council  on  August 14.

Awacango was traveling from Burikimule in Entebbe to Agwok in Nebbi District in West Nile Sub region  where her mother-in-law resides. 

A picture of a blue baby coach  bus  packed just adjacent to Pakwach Health Center IV circulated on Social media, as medics from Pakwach Health Center IV  and other well-wishers ,  are seen busy on the ground  helping  the   28-year-old Proscovia Awacango , a resident of Amor Ferry Cell, Amor East Ward, Pakwach Town Council.

After her successful delivery ,  Awacango, filled with predestined joy, said ” I started experiencing the signs at the bus Park in Kampala, all through the way, I was feeling uneasy, but when the bus reached Pakwach bridge, the condition worsened but I never told anyone, when we reached Pakwach central police station, i just delivered the baby in the bus “

The news about her safe delivery sparked Cheers on social media, with many sending congratulatory messages to  the child’s mother.

Though Awacango delivered safely, some health workers have discouraged other expectant mothers, from long distance travels, saying it posed great risks to their life.

Some health experts also reveal that the  risk of miscarriage is also higher amongst expectant mothers whilst traveling long distances adding  that its also  tiresome.

 Night Rikia Mustafa, an enrolled comprehensive nurse at Pakwach Health Centre IV said expectant mothers  stand at higher risk of bleeding during long distance travels.

” If your left with like two weeks to deliver or a week to deliver, it shouldn’t be necessary for you to travel long distances because it is very risky” Rikia explained 

She also expressed fear that it it would have been riskier if the mother delivered where there was no health facility.

” The incident which happened yesterday if not only that it happened in a place where the health facility is very far and there is nothing completely to be used to help the baby, it was not going to be easy , we may either lose the mother due to bleeding or both of them. Fortunately enough , it happened near Pakwach health center IV , so we were able to save the mother’s life and the baby ” Rukia added.

Jerica Arombo, a close relative to Awacango  expressed her gratitude for the safe delivery of the baby commending  the police, health workers, and the public for their support during the emergency.