Randfontein nurse who delivers baby in parking lot earns national praise
Professional nurse Khomotso Comfort Ramabokela (29) won a national award in private healthcare after he helped deliver a baby in a parking lot.
Randfontein Herald reports that when Ramabokela arrived at the vehicle in the parking lot to assess the situation, he saw that the baby's head was crowning, which meant the woman was close to delivering the child. He explained he had to prepare himself physically and psychologically for what was to come.
His first thought was ensuring the safe delivery of the baby and the health of the mother. He tried to remember that safety and sterility, even outside of the hospital, need to be maintained all the time.
Before working for Randfontein Private Hospital, Ramabokela worked in the emergency department and the labour ward, which prepared him for that very moment. He says coming across such emergencies time and again helped him develop calm and focus.
During the delivery of the baby, Ramabokela noted there were some challenges, such as a lack of space and comfort for the patient, as well as patient privacy. To overcome these challenges, he put the patient in the back seat and covered her.
'The most important thing to keep in mind during situations like these is a safe delivery. You have to ensure the environment is safe for both the baby and the mother. Easy equipment accessibility and the necessary help are also important,' he says.
Ramabokela used his midwifery speciality that he acquired at Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and previous experience to help handle the situation. The best moment for him was when he heard the baby's cries and saw the mother's tears of joy.
'Gaining recognition and being appreciated, it motivated me to keep on working hard and also be open to learning opportunities for me to gain more knowledge and be able to apply the necessary skills in the daily challenges that I come across.'
He advises other healthcare professionals who might face similar emergencies outside of a hospital setting to stay calm and focused. 'Prioritise a safe and sterile environment for your patients, apply necessary skills and also ask for help from colleagues who are near you when you need help, to provide a good health care service.'
The VUT and Lenmed Private Hospital celebrated Comfort for his outstanding contribution to healthcare and the recognition he recently received as 'Celebrate of the Year' across South Africa and the African continent.
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Randfontein nurse who delivers baby in parking lot earns national praise
Professional nurse Khomotso Comfort Ramabokela (29) won a national award in private healthcare after he helped deliver a baby in a parking lot. Randfontein Herald reports that when Ramabokela arrived at the vehicle in the parking lot to assess the situation, he saw that the baby's head was crowning, which meant the woman was close to delivering the child. He explained he had to prepare himself physically and psychologically for what was to come. His first thought was ensuring the safe delivery of the baby and the health of the mother. He tried to remember that safety and sterility, even outside of the hospital, need to be maintained all the time. Before working for Randfontein Private Hospital, Ramabokela worked in the emergency department and the labour ward, which prepared him for that very moment. He says coming across such emergencies time and again helped him develop calm and focus. During the delivery of the baby, Ramabokela noted there were some challenges, such as a lack of space and comfort for the patient, as well as patient privacy. To overcome these challenges, he put the patient in the back seat and covered her. 'The most important thing to keep in mind during situations like these is a safe delivery. You have to ensure the environment is safe for both the baby and the mother. Easy equipment accessibility and the necessary help are also important,' he says. Ramabokela used his midwifery speciality that he acquired at Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and previous experience to help handle the situation. The best moment for him was when he heard the baby's cries and saw the mother's tears of joy. 'Gaining recognition and being appreciated, it motivated me to keep on working hard and also be open to learning opportunities for me to gain more knowledge and be able to apply the necessary skills in the daily challenges that I come across.' He advises other healthcare professionals who might face similar emergencies outside of a hospital setting to stay calm and focused. 'Prioritise a safe and sterile environment for your patients, apply necessary skills and also ask for help from colleagues who are near you when you need help, to provide a good health care service.' The VUT and Lenmed Private Hospital celebrated Comfort for his outstanding contribution to healthcare and the recognition he recently received as 'Celebrate of the Year' across South Africa and the African continent. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
7 hours ago
- The South African
New breast cancer genes found in black South African women
Wits University researchers have identified two new breast cancer genes in black South African women. This discovery marks a major step in understanding how the disease affects African populations. Genetic factors play a role in roughly 30% of breast cancer cases in South Africa. This highlights the urgent need to invest more in genomic research focused on African ancestry. One of the lead researchers, Dr Mahtaab Hayat, said the discovery marks a major step toward identifying unique risk factors in African women. 'These genes have not been associated with breast cancer before,' she said. 'They could help explain part of the disease burden we see in black communities.' Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in South Africa and the most common cancer among women globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that breast cancer diagnosed 2.3 million women in 2022 and killed 670 000 of them. The WHO's Global Breast Cancer Initiative aims to reduce global breast cancer mortality by 2.5% annually. Potentially preventing 2.5 million deaths between 2020 and 2040. For many in South Africa, especially in rural areas, delayed diagnosis and limited healthcare access remain major barriers to survival. Wits University researchers believe their findings may pave the way for more targeted screening and prevention programmes tailored to the needs of African women. They hope that, through more research and greater public awareness, early detection will become a reality even in South Africa's most remote communities. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Ammonia leak at a KZN chicken farm hospitalises 7 workers
Less than a minute The Witness Less than a minute Seven workers were hospitalised following an ammonia leak at a chicken farm near Eston, just outside Pietermaritzburg, on Friday night. The Witness reports that KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service paramedics responded to the scene. According to KwaZulu-Natal Private Ambulance spokesperson Craig Botha, several workers were exposed to the ammonia leak, with seven requiring hospitalisation. Brown says KwaZulu-Natal Private Ambulance paramedics rushed to the scene and stabilised patients before transporting them to hospital. The incident occurred when a pipe carrying ammonia ruptured at the facility. Emergency teams were able to quickly contain the leak and treat those affected. Ammonia is used as a cleaning agent in several industries, including the agricultural sector. Authorities are investigating the cause of the ruptured pipe. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
