Lanjigarh: A pregnant woman was allegedly beaten up by a staff nurse after she resisted the latter’s assault on her mother-in-law at Biswanathpur community health centre in Kalahandi district Saturday.
Janani Majhi delivered twins soon after the assault. However, one of the newborns died while another survived. Later, Janani was shifted along with her newborn to the district headquarters hospital in Bhawanipatna.
The incident sparked outrage in the area at a time the state government and the Centre are implementing a host of schemes to check maternal and infant mortality.
Locals condemned the incident, demanding stringent action against the nurse who is reportedly known for being whimsical, high-handed and negligent in her work.
Sources said Janani of Sapulkucha village under Champadeipur panchayat of Lanjigarh block was admitted to Biswanathpur hospital with the help of a local ASHA worker Jashoda Jal after she experienced labour pain Saturday.
At the hospital, Janani developed cold feet right before the delivery and called her mother-in-law to her bedside. Staff nurse Rasabati Dei however flew into a rage after seeing the elderly woman sitting beside Janani.
Dei reportedly slapped the elderly woman and asked her to leave the ward. Janani immediately objected to the nurse’s behaviour, but then Dei turned on Janani and slapped her too, all the while cursing her.
The incident left Janani deeply traumatised, which her family said led to one of the twins succumbing soon after birth. Doctors at the hospital shifted Janani and her surviving child to the district headquarters hospital where the duo recovered after treatment and were later discharged.
Medical officer Malaya Tripathy admitted that the incident occurred and said he has warned the staff nurse to mend her ways or face action. PNN
