Mother Awaiting Medevac After Retained Placenta in Finschaffen's Remote Village in Morobe Province | 26th November, 2025

An urgent medevac request has been raised from Makini Sub-Health Center in Finschaffen District after a 38-year-old mother developed life-threatening complications following a village birth earlier last week.

Flight nurse from MAMA Foundation attending to patient at Makini.

The request was submitted by an Officer in Charge of Makini Sub-Health Center in Qoqo Village, Mape LLG. The patient gave birth on Sunday during a breech delivery at Boringo Village, where the baby was delivered deceased.

Following the delivery, the mother walked on foot to Makini Sub-Health Center on Tuesday (last week) at midday seeking medical help, arriving in a weak worsened condition. Health assessments on her confirmed that the placenta has been retained for more than 72 hours, placing her at severe risk of puerperal sepsis, a potentially fatal postpartum infection.

Despite immediate intervention at the Sub-Health Center including antibiotics, oxytocin, and rectal misoprostol, the patient showed no improvement. Medical officers categorized the case under gynecologic due to the high risk of systemic infection, anemia, and complications from delayed third stage of labour.

Weather conditions at the pickup site were reported as fine with blue skies, making air evacuation possible once the aircraft is dispatched from Manolos Aviation and a medevac team from MAMA Foundation.

The situation remains critical as rural health staff continue monitoring the mother while awaiting evacuation.