Medical workers in Pakwach District are advising expectant mothers to avoid long-distance travel due to the associated health risks, following an incident where a woman gave birth on a bus.
The woman, identified as Proscovia Awacango, delivered her baby on August 14 while on a Baby Coach bus in Pakwach Town Council. Awacango was travelling from Burikimule in Entebbe to Agwok in Nebbi District, where her mother-in-law resides.
A photo circulated on social media showed the blue Baby Coach bus parked near Pakwach Health Centre IV, with medical staff and well-wishers assisting the 28-year-old mother, a resident of Amor Ferry Cell, Amor East Ward, Pakwach Town Council.
Reflecting on the event, Awacango said, “I started feeling signs at the bus park in Kampala, and throughout the journey, I felt uneasy. But when we reached Pakwach Bridge, the situation worsened. By the time we arrived at Pakwach Central Police Station, I delivered the baby right on the bus.”
The safe delivery sparked celebrations online, with many sending congratulatory messages to the new mother.
Despite the positive outcome, health professionals are cautioning other expectant mothers against similar long-distance travel. They warn that such journeys can increase the risk of complications, including miscarriage and excessive fatigue.
Night Rikia Mustafa, an enrolled comprehensive nurse at Pakwach Health Centre IV, emphasized the dangers, saying, “If you’re within two weeks of your due date, travelling long distances is highly risky.”
She also pointed out that Awacango was fortunate to be near a health facility. “If this had happened in a remote area without access to medical help, the outcome could have been tragic. The mother could have suffered severe bleeding, and we might have lost either her or the baby, or both. Thankfully, she was close to Pakwach Health Centre IV, allowing us to ensure a safe delivery.”
Jerica Arombo, a relative of Awacango, expressed her deep gratitude to the police, health workers, and community members who assisted during the emergency.
