Woman gives birth outside health center that was closed for disinfection

Some residents of Barangay Nazareth in Cagayan de Oro assisted a woman who gave birth outside the health center on Friday, Oct. 24. The facility was closed for disinfection. (Photo courtesy of RYAN CHRISTIAN AMISTOSO)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines — A woman delivered a baby girl on Friday just outside a birthing facility that was closed for disinfection after one of its nurses tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The still-unidentified woman, a resident of Barangay Indahag, gave birth in Barangay Nazareth, 7 kilometers away, according to Maximo Rodriguez III, chief of Barangay Nazareth.

Rodriguez explained that the health center housing the birthing clinic had been temporarily closed since Thursday, Oct. 22, for disinfection.

Rodriguez said he had no idea why the woman went to Nazareth to deliver her baby since Indahag had its own health center.

Also, on the way to Nazareth, they had to pass by Barangay Macasandig which also had its own birthing clinic.

The woman, who was accompanied by her husband, did not expect that the Nazareth health center would be closed.

“We have an ambulance that should have brought the woman to the nearest hospital, but she said she could no longer hold it as the baby was about to come out,” Rodriguez said.

As if by a miracle, Rodriguez said, a new doctor lived just across the street from the health center.

With the assistance of some residents, the woman was laid on a stretcher as Dr. Francis Alcantara delivered her baby girl.

“We were thankful that he [Alcantara] responded right away. It was a safe delivery,” Rodriguez said.

The woman was brought to the adjacent Macasandig Health Center where she was given medical care.

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