Little Miracles at Prince Albert Hospital | Western Cape Government

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Little Miracles at Prince Albert Hospital

15 April 2014
Little miracles are often born at Prince Albert Hospital.
 
One of these miracles is Divurden Marthinus born on 27 January 2014 at only 25 weeks gestation. Divurden was too small at birth for admission to a neonatal unit at a secondary hospital. But as a result of the dedication of the entire medical and nursing team at the hospital, who valued his life and survival, this tiny baby survived against all odds – even after two incidents of cardiac failure during his first week. He is a fighter.
 
"It was beautiful to monitor mother Ellen’s development as a mother during this phase," said Assistant Manager of Nursing, Lidie Gous. Divurden currently weighs 1,9 kg, a far cry from the 680 g he weighed at birth, and is doing well. According to test results his development is in line with his age group. 
 
The other two recent miracles born at the hospital were Eltrisha Pieterse and Fionia Jantjies. Eltrisha, baby of Charmaine Pieterse of Leeu Gamka, was born on 14 February 2014 at 28 weeks gestation with a birth weight of 1,21 kg. She lost weight rapidly after birth but stabilised at 1 kg. She currently weighs 1,95 kg and is a well-developed little baby girl.
 
Fionia, daughter of Tania Jantjies from Klaarstroom, was born at 29 weeks gestation on 31 March 2014 with a weight of 1,3 kg at birth. She is the youngest of the three babies mentioned and very small. According to the medical team she is also doing well.  
 
All three babies were normal deliveries and delivered by professional nurses working at the hospital. The babies will be discharged after evaluation when they weigh more than 2 kg. The full component of the multidisciplinary team is involved in the care and monitoring of the three babies. "We are proud of the multidisciplinary team at the hospital where they are exposed to life and death situations and work pressure on a regular basis," said Gous. 
 
Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, said: "It goes to show that our government offers excellent health services across the platform – in large city hospitals such as Groote Schuur Hospital and Tygerberg Hospital, but also in small hospitals such as the one in Prince Albert. A hospital such as this is a gem. Congratulations to the proud mothers."  
 
This 29-bed hospital with a staff complement of 40 has six maternity beds and a well-equipped theatre for delivery. The hospital recently purchased a Cardio-Tocographic Monitor (CTG) which monitors the labour process and contractions as well as the heartbeat of the foetus.
 
Another important piece of equipment that was recently purchased is a Neopuff Infant Resuscitator machine used for neonatal respiratory distress. Paediatricians from George Hospital evaluate the maternity unit on an annual basis and provide in-house training for personnel.
 
Prince Albert Hospital had 150 births in 2013 with an average of 13 births per month. The hospital renders services to Merweville, Leeu Gamka, adjacent farm areas and Klaarstroom. 
Media Enquiries: 
Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Eden and Central Karoo Districts
Tel: 044 803 2725
Fax: 044 873 5929