Baby born during ‘Ruby’ with Save the Children’s ‘BEACON’ birthing box

By Save the Children
December 11, 2014

VILLABA, Leyte – While Ruby pummeled the community around them, Amelita, 31, and husband Remy, cried with joy after the birth of their first baby boy.

The baby was born in a town near Ormoc that was badly hit by Haiyan. The couple were ably assisted by experienced midwife Criselda, 46, who said she wouldn’t have done it without Save the Children’s ‘BEACON’ box, a storm-proof box that contains clean birthing supplies such as sterile blades, alcohol, flashlight and even a birth certificate, to help a pregnant woman deliver safely during and immediately after a disaster. Criselda says, “When I found out about Ruby, I knew there were pregnant women in the village due to give birth that time. I took the BEACON box to our village so that we were prepared”

Save the Children’s ‘BEACON’ box or ‘Birthing Essentials and Care of Newborns’ project was based on the organization’s work and experience in ‘Haiyan’- hit areas. Over 1 million people lost access to full health services when Yolanda hit Central Philippines – yet it was estimated that more than 750 births were due to take place every single day in the typhoon-hit areas. The severe impact of the storm forced many women to deliver in damaged health facilities, at home, or in the open environment, without the availability of clean supplies and electricity endangering the lives of the mothers and the children.

“In the middle of typhoon Ruby, my wife was in pain and about to give birth. I rushed to the midwife’s house with my motorcycle. It was a difficult road and I had to clear trees out of the way that had fallen down”, Remy said.

Amelita’s husband took the midwife back to his home to help his wife as she went into labour.

“It was difficult because there was no electricity but I had everything I needed in the BEACON box to help her deliver safely. I even used the flashlight that was inside. I thank Save the Children for providing us with the clean birthing kits”, the midwife added.

As she tried to recall what happened that night, Amelita said: "I was worried about the welfare of my baby because the winds were strong. I had a difficulty giving birth because it was. Of all my pregnancies, this was the longest because it was cold and I was losing strength.

“We will call our baby boy, Remy, Jr. after my husband”, said Amelita, who after four pregnancies, finally had her first boy. “The BEACON box was a big help for me because it helped deliver my baby safely.”