₦airaland Forum

I am Oghenewoke Emonido, Currently, I work as a Nurse Assistant at Startimes Medical Centre in Benin City, Nigeria, where I provide hands-on care and support to patients while working closely with healthcare professionals.

Bringing a new life into the world is one of the most profound and emotional experiences in healthcare. As a Nurse Assistant working in delivery, I have had the privilege of standing at the intersection of life, hope, and resilience. While doctors and midwives often take the lead, the role of a Nurse Assistant is deeply vital—providing support, comfort, and care to both mother and child during one of the most critical moments of their lives.

Every shift in the delivery unit begins with preparation. Ensuring that the environment is clean, sterile, and ready for incoming patients is part of my responsibility. From arranging delivery instruments to preparing beds and monitoring basic supplies, these seemingly small tasks create the foundation for safe and successful childbirth.

But beyond the physical preparation, the emotional aspect of the job is just as important. Many mothers come into the delivery room with a mix of excitement and fear. As a Nurse Assistant, I often become one of the first points of comfort. Holding a patient’s hand during contractions, offering encouraging words, and simply being present can make a significant difference. Sometimes, what a mother needs most is reassurance that she is not alone.

During active labor, I assist nurses and midwives by monitoring vital signs, helping position the mother for delivery, and ensuring that everything flows smoothly. Quick thinking and attention to detail are essential because situations can change rapidly. Whether it’s responding to sudden complications or assisting in emergency procedures, every second counts.

After the baby is born, the work continues. I help clean and stabilize the newborn, support the mother as she recovers, and ensure that both are comfortable. This stage is often filled with joy—hearing a baby’s first cry never gets old. It is a reminder of why I chose this profession.

Working in delivery is not without its challenges. Long hours, emotional stress, and physically demanding tasks are part of the job. There are moments of heartbreak, especially when complications arise. However, the joy of seeing a healthy mother and child leave the hospital outweighs the difficulties.

Being a Nurse Assistant in delivery has taught me compassion, patience, and the true meaning of care. It is not just about assisting in medical procedures; it is about being part of a life-changing journey. Every birth I witness reinforces my commitment to this path and reminds me that even in the smallest role, we can make the biggest difference.

In the end, I may not always be the one delivering the baby, but I am proud to be part of the team that helps bring life into the world—one safe delivery at a time.

By Oghenewoke Emonido
Nurse Assistant | Startimes Medical Centre, Benin City
BSc. Medical Microbiology & Parasitology | MSc. Clinical Biochemistry

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Every parent, caregiver, or even passerby fears this moment — a child suddenly gasping, silent, or struggling to breathe. It happens fast. No warning. No time to Google.

Choking is one of the leading causes of emergency situations in infants and young children. And the truth is simple:
👉 What you do in the first few seconds can determine whether that child survives.

This is not just medical knowledge — this is life-saving knowledge.

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## ⚠️ How Do You Know a Child Is Choking?

A choking infant may:
- Be unable to cry or make sound
- Struggle to breathe or gasp
- Turn blue (especially lips and face)
- Suddenly become limp or unconscious

If the child is coughing loudly, do NOT interfere yet — coughing is the body’s way of clearing the airway.

But if the child is silent and struggling, you must act immediately.

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## 👶 How To Help a Choking Infant (0–12 Months)

Stay calm. Panic wastes precious seconds.

### Step 1: Position the Baby
- Place the baby face down along your forearm
- Support the head and neck firmly
- Keep the head lower than the chest

### Step 2: Give 5 Back Blows
- Use the heel of your hand
- Deliver 5 firm blows between the shoulder blades

### Step 3: Turn and Give Chest Thrusts
- Turn the baby face-up
- Place two fingers in the center of the chest
- Push inward 5 quick chest thrusts

👉 Repeat the cycle: 5 back blows + 5 chest thrusts

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## 🚫 What You Should NEVER Do
- Do NOT shake the baby
- Do NOT blindly put your fingers in the mouth
- Do NOT delay action waiting for help

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## 🆘 If the Baby Becomes Unconscious
- Call for emergency help immediately
- Begin CPR (if trained)
- Continue until help arrives

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## 💡 Prevention Is Better Than Panic
Most choking cases can be prevented:
- Avoid giving small hard foods (nuts, popcorn, grapes without cutting)
- Keep small objects out of reach
- Always supervise feeding

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## ❤️ Why This Matters

As someone working closely with patients at Startimes Medical Centre in Benin City, I have seen how quickly situations can escalate — and how powerful quick action can be.

Many tragedies happen not because help wasn’t available, but because people didn’t know what to do.

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## 📢 Final Word

You don’t need to be a doctor to save a life.
You just need to know what to do — and act fast.

👉 Share this. Teach someone. Practice it.
Because one day, it might be your child… or someone else’s.

And on that day, knowledge could be the difference between life and loss

Date: October 23, 2025

More than 300 underserved residents received free healthcare and essential medications in a transformative one-day medical outreach led by Emonido Oghenewoke’s , a dedicated nursing assistant who saw a gap in care and stepped up to fill it.
“I see patients in the clinic every day,” says Emonido Oghenewoke, a dedicated nursing assistant at StarTimes Medical Centre. “But I know there are people in our community who cannot make it to us. They are battling preventable illnesses, maternal health issues, and chronic pain, often because they lack access to basic medical services”.
Motivated by this need, Emonido Oghenewoke took the initiative to organize the “GET CHECKED FOR FREE”—a comprehensive medical outreach designed to provide free health screenings, consultations, and medications directly to the underserved population.

From Vision to Action

Organizing the outreach was a massive undertaking, but Emonido Oghenewoke’s passion served as the driving force. Recognizing that healthcare outreach requires significant logistical support, Emonido Oghenewoke acted as a community liaison, partnering with local leaders and a medical team from StarTimes Medial Centre.
The team, comprising nurses and volunteer physicians, provided crucial services, including:
Preventive Health Screenings: Testing for blood pressure, blood glucose, and other common health issues.

Curative Services: Providing treatments for common ailments.
Health Education: Counseling on sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition to ensure long-term health improvements.

“The goal wasn’t just to see patients, but to plant seeds of knowledge,” Emonido Oghenewoke explains. “By educating families on hygiene, nutrition, and prevention.