Umerkote: Even as the state government pumped in crores of rupees to ensure safe delivery, these benefits hardly reach the beneficiaries thanks to the lack of proper infrastructure.
In a glaring example, a pregnant woman delivered a baby in a moving tractor after she failed to avail an ambulance to shift her to the local health centre Saturday. The incident was witnessed at Tipapani village under Umerkote block in Nabrangpur district.
According to sources, the village lacked road connectivity making it hard for communication.
Under emergency circumstances, ambulances fail to reach the village and remain mid-way- 7 km away from the village. Later, locals carry patients and pregnant women on cots to make use of the ambulance, sources said.
Belanti Majhi, wife of Kamal Majhi, underwent labour pain during the wee hours of Saturday. On learning the incident, local Asha worker alerted an ambulance that reached the spot and waited seven kilometer from the village. Availing no option, family members loaded Belanti on a tractor until it reached the ambulance. However, Belanti delivered a baby girl mid-way before reaching the ambulance.
Later, both mother and the baby were admitted to Umerkote community health centre (CHC) by the ambulance.
The condition of the baby was stable while Belanti’s condition was critical, sources said. PNN
