Shinyanga — In an unprecedented situation in Meatu District, Shinyanga Region, a woman delivered a child with two heads at the weekend.However, according to the district medical officer in charge, Dr Archie Hella, the child was still born because the mother was brought late to the hospital for delivery.
Ms Ngolo Magembe, 19, was brought on May 18 at around 8pm while in critical condition. This was contributed by failure for her part to regularly attend ante-natal clinics, the doctor said. According to him, during delivery the child had taken her legs out first instead of the head as is usual. Efforts by personnel at the hospital to save the child’s life proved futile as it was still born, he explained, continuing:”The life of the child could have been saved if the mother was brought to the hospital much earlier.”
He said the hospital and other health stakeholders have been emphasizing on the importance of sending expectant mothers to hospital early. However, the response was still very poor, and this had led to many avoidable deaths of mothers and children, he lamented.
He said the usual practice has been that until a pregnant mother was in a critical condition that was when relatives would rush her to a hospital, which is often too late. Dr Hella said Ms Magembe was recovering well at the hospital.
