The ‘sister’ saving precious lives, one rural child at a time

Vice President Dr Gharib Bilal hands over an award to Sister Hyasinta Baruti for her outstanding work in the mother and child care sector.  PHOTO | FIDELIS FELIX 

By Saumu Mwalimu, The Citizen

In Summary

• For fifty-two-year-old Hyasinta Baruti, ‘sister’ - the honorific word that usually applies to Roman Catholic nuns - applies to her in appreciation of her compassion and spirited service to her young, mostly frail patients at Mpanda District Hospital.

Dar es Salaam.  For fifty-two-year-old Hyasinta Baruti, ‘sister’ the honorific word that usually applies to Roman Catholic nuns, applies to her in appreciation of her compassion and spirited service to her patients at Mpanda District Hospital.

Sister Hyasinta was a recent recipient of  a special award for individuals who have distinguished themselves in the  promotion of  mother and child health care.

Other similarly saluted personalities were President Jakaya Kikwete, former presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa, First Lady Salma Kikwete, Dr Reginald Mengi, Dr Faraja Nipwapwacha and Elia Mwumbui.

Blowing one’s own trumpet is an all-too-familiar part of human nature; not so for the lay sister.

Hyasinta, who does her job as part of her calling, but was nominated for the award by expectant mothers in appreciation for her very impressive services.

She told this reporter during a recent interview that she felt deeply humbled by the honour, hinting that, as she went about her work, that thought never crossed her mind.

The midwife says encounters in which expectant mothers nearly lost their lives were common, but the one that is etched outstandingly on her memory occurred in 2010.

It related to a woman whose name she doesn’t remember, who had been in prolonged labour and had been referred to the hospital from Mishano Health Centre.

She says the patient endured immense pain over the nearly 75 kilometre night journey, as her expected big-size baby was close to the cervix.

The midwife picks up the story: “I was on the night shift; when my colleagues and I received her; she was in a state of utter helplessness.”

“We took her straight to the labour ward and made frantic efforts to save both. She delivered safely, but had lost much blood, during the trip and after delivery. “

Sister Hyacinth narrated further that, she panicked because the blood bank had dried up. Fortunately, she shared the patient’s blood group, 0+, and volunteered as the first donor