Semiliguda: A tribal woman Saturday delivered a baby inside a jeep here in Koraput district as the 102- ambulance didn’t reach her in time to transport her to a hospital.
The incident took place in Naringipadar village under Kanti panchayat in this block. Moti Tadingi, a woman of Tadingi family, was admitted to the block community health centre Friday after she experienced labour pain. However, her condition deteriorated after a while.
The family members tried to contact the ambulance (102) to shift a screaming Moti to a better hospital. However, the number was found connected to a place in Andhra Pradesh. The family somehow managed to collect the mobile number of the driver and urged him to come to the CHC. However, the driver didn’t take interest saying he won’t move unless he was directed by the authorities.
Left with no option, the attendants contacted the ambulance service available at Kunduli CHC. But that too didn’t work. Moti’s husband Abhiram arranged a commander jeep to take his wife to Kunduli as her condition was worsening with every passing minute.
Unfortunately, the vehicle’s headlight was damaged and a torch light was connected to it to take the patient to the hospital in the dead of the night. However, Moti delivered a baby at a secluded place when the vehicle had covered just five kilometers. Deprived of all post-delivery cares, Moti along with her newborn baby was brought to Kunduli CHC Saturday morning.
They were found sitting on the hospital’s verandah for hours before being given the required care. Janani Surakhya Yojana, a scheme to help expecting mothers, has turned out to be a joke in remote areas of the district, locals alleged. The other programmes of the government to provide better medical care to tribals too have failed, they added.
When contacted, CHC medical officer Dr Prince Parida said the condition of the mother and the newborn is stable.
Dr Lalit Mohan Rath of the family welfare department said the matter would be probed and action initiated against the guilty. PNN
