Woman gives birth during church service

Buchosa. A resident of Kanyala Village in Sengerema District, Mwanza Region, Ms Priska Isaya, 33, has given birth to a baby girl while attending the New Year’s service at the AICT church at the village in Bulyaheke Ward. Narrating, Ms Priska said the man who made her pregnant had disappeared causing her to have no permanent abode on Kasalazi Island.

She said she also had to live on handouts from Good Samaritans due to difficulties she was going through following the disappearance of her spouse.

According to her, on December 31, 2020 she crossed from Kasalazi Island to Kanyala Village, where she rented a room at a guest house and the following day she went to church with the aim of seeking help. However, she said all of a sudden while praying she was overwhelmed by the labour pangs and gave birth in the church.

“My native home is in Muleba District, Bukoba, where my mother is as my Kenyan father has already died. My real name given by my parents there is Hadija Abubakari, but in the place where I live now I’m using the name of Priska Isaya,” said Ms Priska.

When asked why she had changed her name in an unfamiliar place, she replied that living on islands was not normal for anyone to use their real names because of matters that happen there, which she did not clarify, and therefore they had to use different names.

For his part, Pastor Isaka Yasini of the church said it was the first time for the woman to go to his church and attend a Mass.

The pastor said while presiding over the service he saw the woman sitting on the floor. He then decided to approach her to ask her if something was wrong only to be told that she was experiencing labour pains.

Pastor Yasini explained further that discussing with some believers how to help her, she gave birth in the church.

He said both the mother and the baby were in good condition.

One Ms Kefreni Barinaba was the woman who helped Priska to give birth in the church.

She said she had to go to a shop near the church to buy a string with which to wrap the umbilical cord of the newly-born baby.

Following the incident, Ms Kefreni explained that God had His intentions for both the mother and the baby for the incident to take place in the House of worship.

She also called on fellow citizens to earnestly pray to God and exalt Him.

Village chairman Gacha Paul said after getting the information about the woman from the pastor, he went to the church and thanked all those who had helped save the lives of the poor woman and baby and asked society to continue assisting others.

At present, the woman is sheltered at Ms Kefrini’s home while being provided with necessary services by the members of the church congregation at the village under the leadership of the pastor.