Gweru (New Ziana) – Gweru Provincial Hospital on Thursday successfully conducted the country’s first caesarean section operation on a pregnant Covid-19 patient.

Doctors performed the delicate operation under strict supervision of the Midlands State University Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Anesthesia.

The hospital’s medical superintendent, Fabian Mashingaidze authorized the operation.

Both the mother and the baby are well and will spend the next three days in an isolation room adjacent to the operating theatre.

The woman is a Zimbabwean returnee who arrived in the country from Botswana 38 weeks pregnant. She tested positive for Covid-19, raising concern among pediatricians over her safety and that of the unborn child.

The executive dean from the University’s Faculty of Medicine, Reginald Matshaba Hove confirmed the case in a memo on Thursday.

“This is to inform you that with the authorization of the Medical Superintendent of Gweru Provincial Hospital, Dr Fabian Mashingaidze, the first ever Caesarean section on Covid-19 pregnant woman in Zimbabwe was successfully conducted today (Thursday) at Gweru Provincial Hospital under strict infection prevention and control measures,” he said.

The patient is one of the four Covid-19 citizens in the Midlands Province who was in quarantine after returning to Zimbabwe.

The obstetrician who carried out the successful operation was Johannes Mukwembi of the Midlands State University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

“The attending anesthetists were Dr Tafadzwa Mutukwa and Dr Prince Tineyi Murambi of the Midlands State University Department of Anesthesia.

“We sincerely thank the team for their benevolent spirit and work ethic to assist a fellow Zimbabwean in spite of the stigma, fear and danger associated with Covid-19,” Hove said.

The Acting Secretary for Health, Gibson Mhlanga, also confirmed the development.

“The operation went well, with full adherence to standard IPC guidelines. Both mother and baby are stable and admitted in isolation at (Gweru Provincial Hospital).

“We would like to thank health workers at all levels in the Ministry of Health and Child Care departments and partners, especially the team at Gweru Provincial Hospital where the baby was delivered,” said Mhlanga.

In a statement, the Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors Association (ZSHDA) said: “Zimbabwe has successfully delivered its first case of a pregnant mother who had tested positive for Covid 19 today. The baby was delivered through a caesarean section for an obstetric indication at Gweru Provincial Hospital.

“We applaud the Gweru team and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) and its partners,” ZSHDA said.

New Ziana