Kashipur: A pregnant woman was carried on a makeshift stretcher for about 5 km to reach an ambulance in Odisha’s Rayagada district after poor road connectivity prevented the vehicle from reaching her village. She later delivered a stillborn baby at the Rayagada district headquarters hospital.
The incident took place Sunday in Malipadar village under Sungeri panchayat in Kashipur block and has once again highlighted the difficulties faced by residents of the remote, hilly areas in accessing healthcare.
The woman, identified as 35-year-old Suku Majhi, wife of Arjun Majhi, developed labour pain Sunday. After being informed, an ASHA worker called an ambulance. However, the vehicle could not reach Malipadar because there was no road connecting the village and had to stop near Aliguna village.
Family members then carried Suku on a stretcher for about 5 km to reach the ambulance. She was first taken to the nearby Sungeri primary health centre, but was referred to the Kashipur community health centre as no doctor was available there.
As her condition deteriorated, she was referred to the Rayagada district headquarters hospital, where she delivered a stillborn baby.
The incident comes days after another pregnant woman from Kashipur block faced difficulty in reaching an ambulance because of poor road connectivity.
Last Wednesday, Bimala Goud, wife of Sunadhar Goud of Goud Sahi in Sarambai village, went into labour and her family contacted an ambulance. However, the vehicle could reach only about 1 km of the village because of the lack of a motorable road.
Ambulance staff carrying a stretcher were on their way to Bimala’s house when she delivered the baby at home.
The two incidents within five days have raised concerns over healthcare access in the remote parts of Kashipur, where difficult terrain and inadequate road connectivity continue to pose challenges for pregnant women seeking emergency medical care.