The only baby born on Christmas Day at Liteta District Hospital in Chibombo District survived a critical and life-threatening start after being prematurely detached from the placenta, Medical Officer in-charge Dr. Kenneth Musonda has revealed.
Dr. Musonda disclosed this during a Christmas visit to the hospital by Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Commander Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni, who was celebrating the festive season with mothers and their newborns.
“This is a special baby,” Dr. Musonda told the Commander. “The mother came with a complication early in the morning and the baby was prematurely detached from the placenta.”
He explained that the emergency required swift action, with health workers rushing the mother to the emergency centre for urgent intervention to assess and stabilize both her and the baby.
“It (the baby) was received under emergency conditions, and we are grateful that the outcome was positive,” Dr. Musonda said.
The Christmas baby was the only child born at the hospital on December 25 and was among six other newborns who later received baby hampers personally handed over by Lt. Gen. Nyoni.
During the visit, the Commander personally placed a baby hamper into the hands of the Christmas baby’s mother. At the time, the newborn was still receiving blood as nurses closely monitored the situation in the maternity ward. Both the mother and baby are reported to be recovering well.
The visit also included a donation from the ZAF Commander and his team, who provided the hospital with assorted equipment, mattresses, cleaning materials, and baby hampers.
