A PREGNANT woman in labour who was successfully rescued, delivered a healthy baby after a coordinated rescue operation involving health teams, security personnel, and local volunteers in a landslide-affected area on the Ranau-Tambunan route, located near Kota Kinabalu, on Wednesday morning.
Dr. Maria Suleiman, the Director of the Sabah State Health Department, shared that her team took swift action after receiving an urgent report about a woman showing signs of labor in an area cut off due to a landslide.
The swift response was crucial, as the patient was in a remote location, making access difficult.
"The situation required immediate attention, and a collaborative effort was made by various agencies. This included a retrieval team from Tambunan Hospital, Tambunan district police, the Public Works Department, and members of the public, all working together to safely transport the expectant mother through the landslide-impacted area," Bernama reported Dr. Maria saying.
Upon arrival at the scene, an initial assessment by the health team from Klinik Desa Tontolob, located in Liawan, confirmed that the woman was in the active labour phase, necessitating urgent transfer to a hospital. After overcoming the challenges posed by the landslide, the woman was successfully evacuated from the isolated area.
Dr. Maria added on the patient’s journey, stating, "Upon reaching Keningau Hospital, approximately 50 kilometers from Tambunan, the woman was immediately taken to the operating room for an emergency lower-segment cesarean section, as fetal distress was detected."
The procedure was carried out successfully, and both the mother and baby were reported to be in stable condition following the operation.
"This successful mission demonstrates the crucial role of collaboration, quick response, and preparedness among various agencies when managing emergencies," Dr. Maria said, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in critical situations. - February 28, 2025
