A pregnant woman, Kabita Pradhan, of Phulajhari village of Kishorenagar block of Angul district, failed to get ambulance service under the Janani Suraksha Yojana and delivered a baby in an auto-rickshaw on way to hospital.
The woman was taken to hospital in the auto-rickshaw as a 102 Ambulance did not turn up in time on Wednesday night. "We had to hire an auto-rickshaw to take her to hospital as the ambulance failed to reach in time. My wife with severe pain delivered a baby girl inside the vehicle before reaching the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH),” Kabita’s husband Kalindi Padhan said.
After travelling around 50 km on road by the auto-rickshaw, just 4 km from the DHH, with severe pain, Kabita gave birth to her baby inside the auto-rickshaw on the road. From there, her relatives informed the 108 Ambulance service. An ambulance came to the spot after around two hours of delay. With severe pain, the woman was brought to the hospital with the baby.
The incidence exposed the failure of the Janani Suraksha Yojana' in Angul.
In a very casual manner, the district Collector ordered an inquiry into the incidence. To get the inquiry report from the CDMO, he has to wait for three long days.
The National Health Mission of the Department of Health and Family Welfare is managing and responsible for comprehensive pre-hospital emergency medical service with emergency ambulance service free of cost to the people.
The Angul Project Manager of NHM, while refusing to speak about the incidence, said the CDMO would answer on it. CDMO Dr Basanta Panda said, “We are inquiring on the matter.”
Reacting to the incidence, State Women’s Congress president Sasmita Behera demanded stern action against the concerned NHM officials.