Senthil Kumar
Rangat, Nov 20: The matter of denying entry to two pregnant ladies in DSS vessel, M V Jolly Bouy by the Captain, has triggered a row in Islands.
The matter has deeply hurt Islanders and all readers. Due to unavailability of officials comment, complete details could not be obtained in first reports. However, further investigation by Andaman Sheekha has revealed that the entire issue happened due to lack of coordination between Shipping and Health Departments and also because of Ego clash.
It has also been reported by Rangat PHC sources that none of the ladies had died, as it was wrongly reported in first report, infact the PHC Rangat officials had to transfer both the ladies to G B Pant Hospital in Ambulances through ATR, which was too difficult for expecting mothers of eight + months.
Replying to Andaman Sheekha’s 19th November question the Director of Shipping Services, Capt. Rajinder Kumar today replied in a message that due to rough sea conditions, non availability of doctor on-board and complicated cases of pregnancies the master had to decline as it could have created an emergency at sea with no facilities to handle such situation.
“There were two more DSS vessels after that one on 15 and on 17 but nobody approached,” the Director replied.
Meanwhile another source from Shipping Department clarified that as the weather was bad the Captain of the vessel requested for a doctor with the patient. But due to shortage of doctor at Rangat no doctor could accompany the patient. The captain to be in safe side asked the nurse to sign an undertaking but the nurse accompanying the patient alleged refused to sign any undertaking.
However, the CHC Rangat sources alleged that all the captains in Rangat- Port Blair vessels allow pregnant ladies to travel in vessels with Staff Nurses except on particular captain. In both the cases the captain was same.
The Husband of one of the pregnant ladies told Andaman Sheekha that how difficult it was to take an expecting mother to Port Blair from Rangat via Andaman Trunk Road. “It was too painful for my wife and I am sure the other lady had also gone through the same horrific situation. My wife delivered baby on the same day we reached Port Blair thankfully nothing happened while we were in Andaman Trunk Road,” said Mr. Dipankar Biswas the husband of one of the patient.
“When the nurse on duty was repeatedly saying that she will handle the patient in case of any emergency, what was the problem with the captain? How can an expecting mother travel in Andaman Trunk Road, a few days before delivery? There was total lack of coordination between all the departments. At last moment how can a captain keep a pregnant lady waiting at Jetty and ask for various formalities?” questioned Mr. Biswas.
The Chief Medical Officer of PHC Rangat also told Andaman Sheekha that the matter has already been taken up with the Director of Health Services.
Expressing anger on this entire issue the Pradhan of Paranashala Panchayat, Mrs. Shivangini Minj said that both the ladies were from her village. “It is too risky for a pregnant lady to travel in ATR during last days of pregnancy, how can the DSS staff refuses to carry a pregnant lady when senior Staff Nurses were present with the patient, who were authorized by the doctor?” she question.
The Pradhan of Rangat Panchayat, Mr. SK Singh told Andaman Sheekha today that he will be writing a complaint letter to the DSS in this regard.
The million dollar question is that when the Prime Minister Modi is promising ‘Ache Din’ why due to lack of coordination between various departments and lack of a proper SOP for emergency cases, patients, especially expecting mothers are experiencing ‘Horrific Dins’? Who will take responsibility in case of any causality? What is the point giving clarification and explanations after making an expecting mother to suffer for hours and hours? Why different captains follow different rules? Why can’t there be one Standard Operating Procedure, which everyone will follow during emergency cases?