Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, July 11: An expecting mother lost her baby at Diglipur due to non-availability of a gynaecologist and poor infrastructure at CHC Diglipur.
As per reports Smti Asha, a woman from Kalara Junction under Diglipur Tehsil lost her baby in childbirth last Saturday (09/07/2022), as the Community Health Centre, Diglipur where she was taken to “lacked a gynaecologist and adequate infrastructure to handle the complications in her case.”
The woman’s mother-in-law SmtiDulari Bai, belonging to an economically weaker family background, said they took their daughter-in-law to the CHC, Diglipur on 7th July after she complained of labour pains.
“She was kept under observation for two day i.e. 7th & 8th July at the CHC but when the CMO observed that there was non-progress of labour, the woman was referred to GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair. And considering the critical condition of the pregnant woman, the CMO also informed the concerned authority and pressed for immediate helicopter service for her evacuation.
But, unfortunately the chopper service couldn’t be availed due to inclement weather conditions. Incidentally, the woman delivered a girl child at about 07.30pm on 9th July; but the baby survived for merely an hour and she was pronounced dead at 07.30pm after medics had desperately tried to save her life. The newborn baby breathed her last owing to fetal distress, sources in the Health Department said.
When contacted, the woman’s mother-in-law said the CMO and other staff of the CHC put their best efforts to save the baby, but couldn’t save the child. She further added, “If there were a gynaecologist at CHC Diglipur, my new-born granddaughter could have been saved.”
According to the patients and people of Diglipur, an Ultrasound machine at CHC was sanctioned years ago, but till date the department hasn’t bothered to post a permanent radiologist/sonologist at the CHC to operate the machine. As a result, the patients have to depend on the mercy of the radiologist who seldom reports to CHC, Diglipur from District Hospital, Mayabunder on emergency.
The CHC is plagued with the non-availability of specialists like gynaecologist, anaesthetist and at least a paediatrician, the common people claimed. “Even if a gynaecologist is permanently posted at R.P. Hospital, Mayabunder, our pregnant women could be benefitted,” argued the irked people.
“The present scenario of the CHC is depressing, we just can’t understand what to do amid the situation when there is no gynaecologist at CHC, Diglipur on one hand, and on the other hand, the NH is in dilapidated condition, while, if there is inclement weather condition, neither helicopter will fly nor there will be inter-island vessel service, then how we can save our pregnant women”, they bemoaned.
Meanwhile, some veteran people of Diglipur have appealed to the Lt. Governor, A & N Islands to intervene and direct concerned department to post a permanent gynaecologist along with an anaesthetist so that the pregnant women of Diglipur farthest away from the capital city Port Blair don’t have to suffer anymore. They also appealed to the Deputy Commissioner, N & M Andaman, Mayabunder to look into the matter.
