Wulu Secondary School senior four (S.4) student, Elizabeth Agum Taban, faced a unique challenge during her physics examination week in Lakes State. She successfully delivered her preterm baby boy at Rumbek State Hospital, just a day after completing her citizen examination paper on Tuesday. Remarkably, she was preparing for her physics examination when this unexpected event unfolded.
The mother, who gave birth to a preterm baby boy at 3:30 PM, had taken her Physics examination at 8:00 am the previous day. Reflecting on the difficulty of this year’s examinations, she is reaching out to well-wishers for support in caring for her newborn.
James Salah Makoi, a midwife at Rumbek State Hospital’s maternity ward, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that they received the senior four (S.4) candidate on Tuesday evening while she was in labour but not at full term.
Identified as Elizabeth Agum, this was her first baby, delivered at midnight around 3:30 PM. The baby, a boy weighing 1.6kg, appears to be in good health, according to the midwife.
“And the baby is breastfeeding well, and the mother is comfortable. It may have been due to another condition, such as malaria, as the baby hasn’t reached the full nine (9) months. However, overall, both the mother and the baby are in good health,” explained Makoi.
He added that the mother has malaria, and they worked to manage it while she was in labour. “Sometimes, malaria can lead to preterm delivery,” he noted.
Elizabeth Agum Taban, a 21-year-old senior four (S.4) candidate from Wulu Secondary School, shared with Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that she travelled from Wulu Secondary School to Rumbek, the capital of Lakes State, to take her examinations.
She mentioned that the subject she was scheduled to take this morning after giving birth was physics. “I came from Wulu Secondary School, and my paper this morning was supposed to be physics after delivery,” she explained. “The examination papers are really challenging, but I did my best.”
She conveyed a message to the people of Lakes State and South Sudan, requesting assistance with limited resources. “I delivered before completing the full nine (9) months, as I was only eight months into my pregnancy when I gave birth to a baby boy,” she added.
Moses Mawat, the Inspector of Secondary School Examinations in Rumbek, reported that at 7:30 AM, they received information at Savannah Secondary School center that the candidate, identified as Elizabeth Agum Taban from Wulu Secondary School, had delivered a baby boy at Rumbek State Hospital.
He mentioned, “At that time, I collected the examination papers and went to see her at Rumbek State Hospital. She took the exams, performed well, and we returned her examination papers to the center. This is what transpired this morning.” He assured that she is doing well, physically and mentally, and they collected the completed exams and sealed them in the examination envelope.
Santo Malual Taban, the husband of Elizabeth Agum, who recently gave birth to a preterm baby boy, shared details about Elizabeth’s educational journey. He stated, “Elizabeth Agum is my wife, and she was a senior four (S.4) student at Wulu Secondary School.”
He explained, “She came to sit for her senior four (S.4) exams, and unexpectedly, she went into labour, delivering last night at around midnight, approximately 3:00 AM.”
“I married her when she was in primary (P.7),” he continued. “I supported her through primary eight (P.8), and she proceeded to high school until she reached senior four (S.4), where she got pregnant.” He emphasized that despite the challenges, she delivered the baby last night.
Expressing his belief in the value of education, Santo Malual Taban said, “Education is something very beneficial, especially for girls. Promoting girl education can uplift society. Allowing a wife to go back to school does not hinder anything; in fact, an educated woman can solve many problems at home.”
He urged young people, especially those considering marriage, to support their wives in pursuing education for the betterment of their families and South Sudan as a whole. Sharing personal experiences, he mentioned the challenges he faced when his wife received a scholarship to study at Mozzalari Secondary School, leaving him in Wulu to manage household responsibilities.
“I faced numerous challenges, but I took on responsibilities such as fetching water and handling household chores. I gave her the opportunity to pursue her education,” he revealed. “Allowing your wife to go back to school is an investment with fruitful returns that you, as a spouse, will ultimately benefit from,” he concluded.
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