Tuesday 26 September brought much excitement in Struisbaai when newly born Baby Zimba and her mother, Nolia Zimba, took a ride with the NSRI to receive medical care.
It all started shortly before 05:00 when Sister Hildreth Marthinus, a midwife at Otto du Plessis Hospital in Bredasdorp, was awakened to assist Nolia who had gone into labour.
Without hesitation, Marthinus went straight to Maxwell Schippers, the caretaker of Struisbaai Clinic, to gain access to the clinic for a birthing pack, and set off to Nolia’s house in Struisbaai North where she resides.
For Sr Marthinus this was nothing new as she often assists mothers who go into labour until the ambulance arrives to collect them and take them to the nearest hospital in Bredasdorp, roughly 33 km away. Only this time, the road between Struisbaai and Bredasdorp was flooded and there was no chance that an ambulance would be able to access the town and the patient.
Marthinus described the birth as “easy” and said: “When I arrived, the baby was already positioning head on perineum. Shortly after the baby was delivered, the mother experienced post-birth complications.”
The experienced midwife knew she had to make a plan to get the patient to a doctor. With the help of members of the NSRI Agulhas, Baby Zimba and her mother Nolia were transported to Dr Annelie Fourie, a private GP in Struisbaai, in no time.
Reinard Geldenhuys, the NSRI Agulhas station commander, reports that the NSRI members then transported Nolia and Baby Zimba to Otto du Plessis Hospital with a 4×4 after Nolia had been stabilised.
When asked how she was able to act so quickly during this tricky situation, Sr Marthinus responded: “My response came naturally. I am used to catching babies in Struisbaai.”
Dr Jacques du Toit, Medical Manager for Swellendam and Cape Agulhas, said it was amazing to see how a partnership ensured that both mother and baby received the necessary health care – from a dedicated nurse who offered to help a patient in her private time to the NSRI and Overberg Disaster Management that were on standby to assist and the private GP, Dr Fourie, who did not hesitate to open her practice.
Roche Laws, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Wellness in the Overberg, thanked all the role players who made the birth of Baby Zimba and the healthcare treatment of Nolia possible.
“Baby Zimba and her mother are happy and healthy,” said Laws. “Both have been discharged from hospital. Sr Marthinus visited Nolia and Baby Zimba at their home.”
A very grateful Nolia welcomed Sr Marthinus and exclaimed: “Thank you very much for helping with the birth of my baby!” . Watch the video on the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness Facebook page for an interview with Sister Marthinus and Maxwell Schippers.
