A Woman Police Constable attached to the Valencia Police Post went into action yesterday morning and successfully delivered a baby girl at the mother's Valencia home.
Both mother and baby were reported to be in good health and are now warded at the Maternity Ward at the Sangre Grande Hospital.
It was around 7.37 am yesterday that 10-year-old boy Kai Pierre ran to the Valencia Police Post to alert officers that his pregnant relative had been in severe pain and needed immediate help.
Cpl Samaroo, PC Elie and WPC Glenda Goora immediately responded and accompanied the boy to the house, which was located at the back of the police post.
When they arrived the officers heard Kathy Ann Alexander-Pierre, mother of Sabrina Pierre, screaming for help as her daughter was experiencing intense labour pains.
Wasting no time, Goora took charge of the situation with the assistance of her colleagues and organised a pot of hot water and sanitary napkins in preparation for the child's birth.
After about 20 minutes, Goora safely delivered the baby girl and placed her on the bed next to her elated mother. The baby was named Sierra.
In the meantime, Goora and her colleagues had called for an EHS ambulance which arrived shortly afterwards.
After paramedics John Seepersad and Hanooman Bhola carried out their medical checks on baby and mother they were taken by the ambulance to the Sangre Grande Hospital.
Both mother and baby were said to be resting comfortably at hospital last night.
Goora told T&T Guardian she has experience as a midwife, noting this helps her with her police duties when such situations arise. In fact, she said this was third baby she had delivered in the line of duty. She said she gained her experience from family members who are in the medical field.
Alexander-Pierre said the baby came before time as her daughter had an appointment to attend the Valencia Clinic today.
She thanked the police officers who responded, especially Goora, who went about delivering the baby with little or no problems, adding she was amazed at the officer’s work.
"Response like this will knit the community and police and will restore some confidence and good relationship with police and the public," Alexander-Pierre said.
Speaking on behalf of the Police Service yesterday, manager of corporate communications, Ellen Lewis, said, "This action of WPC Goora is simply indicative of the extent to which police officers serve citizens of T&T. The role of a police officer has expanded over time to embrace issues not confined to the enforcement or maintenance of law and order but now embraces day-to-day issues that have no bearing on law but appeal to the humanity to man.”
Lewis also referred to a recent case in which two police officers paid a utility bill for an ailing woman, after which the officers alerted the woman's relatives about her medical condition.