Kalimela, Oct 30: In yet another incident of poor ambulance service in tribal areas, a woman Wednesday delivered a child on roadside after writhing in labour pain for three hours at Kurob village under this block in Malkangiri district.
The incident reflects the real picture of health service in Maoist-affected regions of the district.
According to reports, Bhima Padiami, wife of Irma Padiami of the village, felt labour pain at about 12 pm Wednesday. Irma informed ASHA worker Basanti Marhi of the village and requested her to take his wife to a hospital.
Though the ASHA worker tried to contact 102 and 108 ambulance services, she didn’t succeed. Meanwhile, Bhima, who was waiting for the ambulance on the road, delivered the child on the road side.
A delegation of people’s representatives, which was in the area to assess drought situation, came to know about the incident. Sarpanch Mala Marhi contacted 102-ambulance and informed the medical officer of Kalimela health centre eight km from Kurob village of the incident. Finally, the ambulance reached the spot at about 3 pm and took the mother and the newborn to the hospital.
The duo has been discharged after preliminary treatment, medical officer Muktikanta Mallik said.
The patients are deprived of ambulance services (102&108) as they are being controlled from Bhubaneswar and the messages don’t reach the control in time of need, locals alleged.