THE Port Moresby General Hospital Labour Ward has been quite busy as staff worked around the clock to
deliver 182 babies during the long Easter weekend.
Shift team leader and midwife Sr. Dephney H. Hevelawa yesterday said that the ward has been very busy
during Easter and with a shortage of manpower, some staff have had to take on double shifts.
“Within this Easter period, it was quite busy. The beds were all full so we had to assist mothers to deliver
on the floor. When we have our medical students are around, they give us a helping hand but otherwise,
we have one or two midwives available on a shift,” explained Sr. Hevelawa.
She has advised women to go on family planning and for expectant mothers to seek assistance quickly to
when they start to feel contractions.
“Family planning is free. If you don’t get family planning and you stay home then this is what we are
having now. There is a lot of mothers coming in to have their babies,” said Sr. Hevelawa.
“If you know you are nearing your due date or are going into labour, come quickly so we can help you,”
says Sr. Hevelawa. “Some mothers who wait too late either give birth along the way or in the car so they
are putting themselves and their babies at risk too.”
She also cautioned parents to monitor and know the whereabouts of their children because teenage
pregnancy is on the rise with girls as young as 14 or 15 years-old being admitted at the ward.
“Most of these young girls are coming to deliver. There’s a lot of health risks involved. They can sustain
birthing injuries; their pelvis is not strong to hold the weight of the baby. Family planning is not for just
married couples. Anyone who is sexually active can get them,” she added.
PICTURE CAPTION:
PROUD mum, 20-year-old Naru Yol, who hails from Chimbu Province, is pictured with her daughter who
was born at 4 a.m. on Easter Monday, the 5th of April, 2021.