An unidentified woman with mental
illness, on Saturday, went into labour along Marian Road, one the
busiest outlets in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
illness, on Saturday, went into labour along Marian Road, one the
busiest outlets in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The woman, who is about 30 years, was observed to be in labour at about 3.50pm.
An eyewitness, Ofon Umoh, who has a shop
around the scene of the incident, said the woman had been a familiar
face in the neighbourhood before she got pregnant.
around the scene of the incident, said the woman had been a familiar
face in the neighbourhood before she got pregnant.
Umoh said, “She was a familiar face
around this vicinity, but after a while, we did not see her for some
time. She only resurfaced with pregnancy. I think she was raped.
around this vicinity, but after a while, we did not see her for some
time. She only resurfaced with pregnancy. I think she was raped.
“She returned some days ago and sat on
the spot where she gave birth. We noticed that she had become restless
since Thursday, but because we were not communicating with her, no one
knew it was the labour pain that was disturbing her.
the spot where she gave birth. We noticed that she had become restless
since Thursday, but because we were not communicating with her, no one
knew it was the labour pain that was disturbing her.
“It was when the baby started coming out
that people called the health workers, who came here to assist her. The
workers’ swift response also helped in easing the process for her.”
that people called the health workers, who came here to assist her. The
workers’ swift response also helped in easing the process for her.”
She was taken to the General Hospital in
Calabar at the instance of the Cross River State Commissioner for
Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong.
Calabar at the instance of the Cross River State Commissioner for
Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong.
“The Commissioner for Health responded
immediately by going to the scene personally with an ambulance to handle
the situation. On arrival, she took the mother and the baby to the
General Hospital, Calabar, for expert medical attention,” another source
said.
immediately by going to the scene personally with an ambulance to handle
the situation. On arrival, she took the mother and the baby to the
General Hospital, Calabar, for expert medical attention,” another source
said.
However, there was a mild drama before the team left for the general hospital as the mentally-ill woman refused to follow them.
It took the effort of another
mentally-deranged woman, who is her friend, to convince her to follow
the medical team to the hospital.
mentally-deranged woman, who is her friend, to convince her to follow
the medical team to the hospital.