Buddhist temple acts as emergency maternity unit

Buddhist temples are not normally associated with obstetrics. Since the May 12 earthquake, however, 81 infants have been born in Luohan Temple, first built in AD 709, in the small earthquake-hit city of Shifang in Sichuan province. Medics and nurses escorted three new mothers and more than 40 pregnant women out of the Shifang Women and Children's Hospital as soon as the first quake tremors occurred at 2:48 pm. As hospital buildings began to collapse, Su Quan, monk in charge of the daily operation of Luohan Temple, urged everyone from the hospital to take refuge there. "May 12 happened to be the Buddhist festival celebrating the birthday of Sakyamuni, when particular thought is given to helping the needy," the 42-year-old monk told China Daily. More than 800 local residents took shelter in the temple on May 12; 4 days later... [read full story]