Nkurenkuru
A 23-year-old Grade 10 learner from Nkurenkuru Combined School gave birth to a baby in the parking lot at Shoprite Shopping Complex at about 21h00 on Sunday.
“The young girl was in labour and the family members wanted to rush her to the health centre with a private car, but whilst on the road things got worse after the car ran out of fuel. The baby was coming and the elders helped her deliver it and all went well,” confirmed one neighbour, who opted to remain anonymous.
By the time the ambulance arrived with a nurse the learner had already given birth to the baby. They were then taken to the nearest health centre, where both the mother and baby were admitted for medical care, according to the matron of Nkurenkuru Health Centre, Reino Ndadi.
Ndadi said both the mother and baby have since been discharged and are in good health.
“The girl was taken out of the car and to the parking lot when the baby was coming, which is just near the road” where they ran out of fuel, said one eyewitness.
Onlookers heard sounds of a woman in labour and later heard the cry of the baby and saw the family celebrating the birth of the baby. “We were just walking in the road and heard sounds coming from the parking lot and we saw people at a car helping the girl deliver,” said one onlooker.
It is understood the learner has been attending school while pregnant. She resides in the Kulisuka area on the southern outskirts of Nkurenkuru.