Premature baby dies after ambulance takes 'three hours'

A woman from Damara location whose premature baby died earlier this month, allegedly because no ambulances were available in Windhoek, says while she is deeply traumatised, she does not habour any resentment towards emergency services staff.

The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, said the incident has played out in her head every day since her baby died.

“It has taken a toll on my whole family, and everyone present to witness it that day. I do not want to blame the ambulances, but they took too long,” she said.

The woman was seven months pregnant when she delivered her son, who weighed just 1.5 kilograms at birth.

‘Indelible mark’

She said the death of her baby has forced her to move to the coast, as she could not bear to live in the house where she lost him.

“I even told my cousin the other day that what happened to me that day has left an indelible mark. I have not gone for counselling yet, but I am willing to go,” she said.

When asked about the baby’s father, she said she could not speak on his behalf as they are not together any more, and she doesn’t know how he feels.

On that fateful day, she started having contractions at around 12:00, she narrated. Her water broke at around 15:00, and she gave birth a few minutes later.

According to local businessman Freddy Gariseb, who assisted the woman by calling for help, they were told that no ambulances were available.

“We first called City of Windhoek emergency services for an ambulance to be dispatched to take her to the hospital as the baby had already been delivered when I got to the scene and none of us had any experience on how to go about it from there,” he said.

No ambulances available

They were told that no government ambulances were available and were thus referred to private ambulances, he narrated.

However, according to audio recordings Gariseb made that day, the private emergency service providers they called also did not have any available ambulances to dispatch.

“[Our ambulance] is not working, sir. I hate to say that,” a woman told him over the phone.

He then tried calling the police, requesting a police car to take the woman to the hospital, hoping they would know how to handle the situation. He was told this is not how it works with the Namibian Police, Gariseb said.

In a video made by Gariseb, and seen by Namibian Sun, he said the paramedics told him that the ambulance - which reportedly arrived three hours after the baby was born - came from another town. “When they arrived on the scene, the baby had already passed on,” he said.

'Very unfortunate'

Namibian Sun contacted Khomas regional health director Thomas Ukola on the matter.

Asked about Windhoek's alleged ambulance shortage, he said it is not entirely the case, adding that incidents like this one rarely happen.

“It is very unfortunate what happened. But considering Windhoek’s population and sometimes having to cater for Okahandja as well, we cannot rule out such incidents," Ukola said.

Meanwhile, the mother has appealed to Good Samaritans to assist her and her family with funeral expenses. Those willing to donate can contact her by calling 081 664 5463.