From Crisis to Recovery: How EECC Saved Rozalia and Her Newborn Twins

For 19-year-old Rozalia, the birth of healthy twins should have been a moment of pure joy. But just hours after delivery in a Tanzanian district hospital, that joy turned to fear. She began bleeding heavily and rapidly lost consciousness.

Postpartum haemorrhage—the medical term for heavy bleeding after childbirth—is one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide. It can strike suddenly and, without immediate treatment, is often fatal. Fortunately, Rozalia was cared for by a team trained in Essential Emergency and Critical Care (EECC)—a set of simple, life-saving interventions that can be applied quickly, even in resource-limited hospitals.

The attending nurse immediately recognised the danger and called for help while checking Rozalia’s vital signs. The results were alarming: dangerously low blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, and reduced consciousness—signs of shock.

The team acted fast. They inserted a second intravenous (IV) line and administered a rapid bolus of IV fluids to support her circulation. They gave oxytocin and performed a uterine massage to help stop the bleeding. Rozalia’s legs were raised to improve blood flow to her brain.The team also considered care outside the scope of EECC, and prepared for a possible blood transfusion.

Throughout, frequent reassessments were made in line with EECC protocols, ensuring each intervention was having the desired effect. Within a few hours, Rozalia’s condition had stabilised. She was transferred to the recovery room, where close monitoring continued.

Rozalia recovering following resuscitation

Over the following days, Rozalia regained her strength. Her vital signs returned to normal, and she was able to breastfeed her newborn twins. With joy and gratitude, she was discharged home, healthy and ready to start life with her babies.

Rozalia’s story is a powerful reminder of how quickly maternal emergencies can escalate—but also how effectively they can be managed when health workers are trained and prepared. EECC provides those essential skills and simple, proven methods that save lives every day.

Rozalia with her two babies, waiting to go home.

At EECC Global, we work to ensure every hospital can provide this level of care—because no mother should die from a preventable emergency, and no newborn should lose their parent to something so treatable.

This is EECC: simple actions, rapid response, and lives saved.