BHOPAL: An inquiry has been ordered in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district after a woman complained that she gave birth to her baby in an ambulance because the primary health centre (PHC) was locked and that her newborn died 20 minutes later due to lack of medical care.
Rewa chief medical health officer Dr NN Mishra said an inquiry has been ordered into the matter. “The people responsible will not be spared. Action will definitely be taken against the doctor concerned,” Dr Mishra said.
Sukhlal Rawat of Ladh village said when his wife, Mamta Rawat experienced labour pain on Sunday evening, an Asha worker quickly called an ambulance under the state’s Janani Express scheme which aims to ensure timely healthcare services to pregnant women and sick infants.
But when they reach the state-run health centre in Manikwar, they found it locked
“The PHC was locked and all the staff members including the auxiliary nurse midwife, staff nurse and doctor were absent. Local villagers said the doctor assigned to the centre hardly ever comes to the PHC… My wife gave birth to the baby in the ambulance with the help of an Asha worker.”
But the baby lived only for 20 minutes in the absence of a doctor and other medical staffers, Rawat said, demanding punishment for health officials who were responsible for his baby’s death.
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