Lanjigada: In what has once again highlighted the lack of all-weather roads in remote pockets of the state, a woman and her newborn daughter had to be carried on a stretcher for nearly half a km to reach the ambulance waiting at a distance in the tribal-dominated Lanjigada block of Kalahandi district Tuesday. The incident occurred at Majhipada of Baterpada village under Bijepur gram panchayat. According to family members, Alingadei Majhi, wife of Dhansingh Majhi, went into labour at around 3:30am.
Her family contacted the 108 ambulance service to take her to hospital, but she delivered a baby girl at home before the ambulance could reach her. The ambulance reached near Sahupada, about half a km from Majhipada, but could not proceed further because of the non-motorable road. Following the delivery, Alingadei reportedly fell ill and required urgent medical attention. ASHA worker Satyabhama Bisoi, along with a few villagers and family members, carried the mother and her newborn daughter on a stretcher for nearly half a km till the ambulance. The mother and the baby were then taken to Lanjigada Community Health Centre, where they were admitted.
Family members said both the mother and the newborn were in stable condition. The incident has once again highlighted the difficulties faced by residents of remote pockets in accessing emergency health care services. Despite various government schemes aimed at improving rural connectivity, several villages in the region still lack all-weather roads.
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