Woman gives birth to child on hospital floor

Pardeep Sharma
KATHUA, Nov 13: What can be more shocking about the deteriorating state of affairs in the health services of the State, that a poor pregnant woman in labour pain who was unattended by the doctors  and staff of Sub District Hospital Bani gave birth to child on the floor of hospital in wee hours today.
As per reports, Nanao Devi, 24, W/o Mann Singh of Barmotta village which is 20 kms away from Bani came by foot to Sub District Hospital, Bani in labour pain in the wee hours today.
As the staff of the hospital including the doctor on night duty was not present in the casualty and had gone in their family quarters for sleep, there was no one to attend the patient who was crying with labour pain. The attendant of the patient also knocked the door of Block Medical Officer but no one was present in the room.
Ultimately the women in labour pain could not resist and she gave birth to a male child on the hospital floor. The woman reached the hospital at 3 am in critical condition for medical support. As there was no doctor or medical staff present in the hospital to attend them in emergency or casualty, the family members of women tried their best to locate the hospital staff but could not trace any one.  Later she gave birth to the male child on the floor of hospital in sheer pain at 5 am as no body was there to attend her or administer the drip or other pain killer medicine to subside her acute pain.
The people of Bani who protested against the irresponsible staff of the Hospital said that it was negligence of hospital staff and doctors that she remained unattended despite crying in pain for several hours and later she gave birth to child on hospitals floor in the morning. After the delivery of child a staff nurse became visible and she gave further treatment to her.
After getting the information of shameful incident, some people including BJP Mandal president,  Thakur Dass visited SDH Bani and showed their resentment against the hospital management   and shouted slogans against the Health Minister. The local people also brought the matter in to the notice of MLA Bani, Jeevan Lal.
Lal after enquiring the matter has asked the SDM Bani to initiate enquiry into it and also act against the guilty. The SDM Bani Ajit Singh has also initiated enquiry into the matter and  informed the CMO Kathua about the same.   He said facts will be ascertained and roaster will be checked to see whose duty was on that occasion.
However the SDM said the concerned doctor was in the hospital up to 3 am and due to severe cold he had gone into the staff quarter for rest which is also lying within the hospital premises. The BMO was out of the headquarter as he had gone to attend the official meeting. The lady came at 4 am and the attendant with her himself admitted that he had not faced such problem earlier and he was not knowing that the doctors and staff are present in their quarters.
When contacted CMO Kathua,  Dr Ashok Choudhary said that he also received the information about the matter today and the department will enquire the matter.
MLA Bani Jeevan Lal told Excelsior that it is a serious issue which reflects the non seriousness of the hospital staff. It is the matter of life and death for mother and child and the doctors as well as the staff on night duty were supposed to be present in the hospital.
Lal said he has taken up the issue with SDM Bani and asked him to investigate the matter and act against guilty so that such problem does not occur in future.
The people of the area said as the hilly tehsil Bani is deprived of basic health infrastructure and shortage of medical staff. There are eleven posts of doctors sanctioned at SDH Bani, against that only two doctors are available to attend the 24 hours health service. The post of specialist doctor including the Gynecologist, Pediatrician, Physician, Surgeon, Ophthalmologist, Dental  Surgeon, ENT and para medical staff are lying vacant since months. The whole Bani constituency is dependant upon two doctor as Assistant Surgeon and Anesthesia doctor  and  BMO Bani.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary to Government Health & Medical Education, Dr Pawan Kotwal has given directives to CMO Kathua to hold inquiry in the matter.

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