T Shiva Raj
Campbell Bay, 21 November 2024
In a testament to human resilience and medical dedication, the team at PHC Campbell Bay, located in one of India’s remotest frontiers, successfully conducted a challenging vaginal delivery of a 25-year-old woman with a twin pregnancy under preterm conditions.
The patient, who was 33 weeks into her pregnancy, arrived at the health centre at 4:15 AM on November 20, 2024, reporting leaking per vaginum (Pv). Despite the hospital’s lack of specialised facilities and absence of a Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, the committed medical team stepped up to the challenge.
The first baby, a male child weighing 1.7 kg, was delivered in a footling presentation (A footling breech presentation is a high-risk vaginal delivery where one or both of the fetuses feet are presenting first) at 8:59 AM, while the second baby, another male child weighing 2 kg, was born in a cephalic presentation (Cephalic presentation is when a fetus is positioned head down in the womb, with the head entering the pelvis first during childbirth) at 9:14 AM. Both babies and their mother are reported to be doing well following the delivery.
The case was coordinated with Dr. Vinita from the Paediatrics Department of ANIIMS and Dr. Ritu, who advised referring the mother and newborns to G.B. Pant Hospital for further care.
The delivery was led by Dr. Juliet James, Medical Officer In-Charge of PHC Campbell Bay with support from Dr. Ireen Mary, Medical Officer and Nursing Officers Saida Begum, Aleema Bibi, and Shikha Rani. Their collective effort ensured the safe delivery of the twins, defying the odds posed by limited resources at the facility.
PHC Campbell Bay, situated in Great Nicobar Island—India’s southernmost frontier—lacks specialists, including Obstetrician-Gynaecologists and Paediatricians, making such achievements remarkable. The successful handling of a twin preterm delivery, involving complex presentations like footling breech, underscores the medical team’s expertise and dedication.
While media often highlights the shortcomings of health institutions in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, moments like these deserve widespread recognition. Despite limited infrastructure, the team at PHC Campbell Bay consistently rises to the occasion, as evidenced by previous successes, including breech deliveries and managing a 4.3 kg delivery in a primigravida mother (a woman who is pregnant for the first time).
This case is a powerful reminder of the unwavering commitment of medical professionals in remote and underserved regions. As the mother and her twins prepare for a referral to G.B. Pant Hospital for further care, the team at PHC Campbell Bay stands as a shining example of dedication and skill.
Their success not only brings hope to the island community but also showcases the extraordinary capabilities of healthcare workers in the face of adversity.