Woman gives birth on the porch of Primary Health Centre as it was locked; inquiry initiated

“We reached the hospital at around midnight and my wife was already experiencing (labour) pain. However, upon reaching the hospital, we found it locked. Someone told us that the staff might have locked it from the outside and could be sleeping inside. Despite my attempts to contact them, there was no response,” said the husband of Srijana in a video statement.

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‘Shouted for help’

The family called out to the staff, shouting for help, but received no help.

“Upon hearing our calls for help, someone from a nearby house informed us that the hospital staff had been absent for the past eight days and was not expected to come. They provided us with the address of Narsamma, an ASHA worker,” said the mother-in-law of Srijana in the video statement.

Subsequently, the family proceeded to the ASHA worker’s house. However, she stated that she was no longer employed at the hospital.

The family requested her help and expressed willingness to pay any amount as they were under significant stress and desperately requested her assistance.

Following that, the ASHA worker accompanied the family to the hospital and reached the porch where Srijana delivered the baby, without any assistance.

The family alleged that the staff nurse of the hospital arrived only after she had delivered the baby.

“Nurse arrived at 2 am, finding my wife outside the gate. After her arrival, they opened the gate. There was a considerable amount of blood loss which was evident from what was seen outside on the porch ” said the husband.

The victims expressed their frustration, stating that not a single nurse was present in the hospital, and the doctor did not arrive until 3 pm on Monday, 11 March.

In #Telangana, a woman delivered her child on the porch of a Primary Health Center (PHC) after the hospital was locked at midnight.

The family claimed that despite repeatedly calling for the nurse’s assistance, she did not respond.

Consequently, the family had to organize the… pic.twitter.com/36YGUD8IQJ

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 12, 2024

However, the family, showing leniency, said that the nurse was the only person present at the hospital.

“One must consider the challenges if one person is expected to manage the entire hospital. The nurse used to sleep inside the hospital after securing gates from the outside. However, on the day of our arrival, she had reached a point of exhaustion and decided to sleep at a friend’s place. She left at around 11 pm, just before we arrived at midnight,” said the mother-in-law.

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Inquiry by DMHO

The District Medical and Health Officer of Medak district Dr Chandu Nayak told South First that the ASHA worker was terminated from the service a few days ago as she had reached the age limit.

“The staff nurse, who was residing nearby, was asleep when the situation unfolded. However, upon hearing the case, she promptly opened the door and assisted in delivering the baby. It was a routine delivery. Both the mother and baby are in good health,” said Dr Nayak.

He added that a memorandum had been issued to the staff nurse and medical officer of the hospital.

Meanwhile, an Additional District Medical and Health Officer (ADMHO) has conducted an inquiry into the incident and a report on the same will be submitted by 5 pm on 12 March.

Officials said further actions will be taken and the report will be presented to the collector.

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)