An unidentified woman gave birth in a Pasay City mall yesterday while she was waiting for her turn to take a COVID-19 swab test.
Philippine National Police Medical Reserve Force Deputy Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jesus Ostrea, who is a nurse by training, helped the woman deliver her baby along with her husband.
“One of the utility [workers] ran to me and said, ‘Sir, someone is about to give birth.’ So, I didn’t think twice and immediately responded [to the woman]. I took our first aid kit [and went to help her],” Ostrea told news program 24 Oras in English and Filipino.
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The woman was at the government-run testing site in SM Mall of Asia because she was required to submit a negative RT-PCR result to a hospital before she is allowed to give birth.
After delivering her baby, she and the child were brought to an ambulance and were welcomed with a round of applause from patients who were waiting to have their swab tests taken in the crowded mall.
Ostrea said this is the third time that he had to help a woman give birth in public.
“When the baby was delivered, I couldn’t help but get teary-eyed because I am rarely given a chance to help those in need,” the policeman said.
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