A woman gave birth to a boy on a bench at the Mother and Child Healthcare Centre (M&CHC) on the District Headquarters Hospital premises here. But the newborn died minutes after delivery following a ‘fatal fall’ from his mother’s lap on Saturday night. However, officials contended that the woman gave birth to a stillborn baby in the labour room.
In a separate incident, a baby died at the same State-run centre late on Saturday night due to “breech delivery with obstructed labour.” The death of two babies in quick succession at the recently opened state-of-the-art M&CHC sparked protest by activists of various women’s organisations. The women’s organisations demanded a detailed inquiry into the alleged lapses on the part of the “errant staff.”
The protesters owing allegiance to the POW and other organisations alleged that the death of two infants in less than 12 hours at the M&CHC exposed the “hollow” claims of the government on provision of modern maternal and neonatal services.
N. Nagamani, 27, of Pallegudem of Khammam rural mandal was brought to the M&CHC on Saturday evening by her husband Rajaiah after she developed labour pain. The staff reportedly admitted her into the centre, but asked her to wait outside citing “shortage of beds.” When she began to experience pain, her husband pleaded with the staff to shift her to a bed and provide prompt medical care, but allegedly to no avail.
According to sources, Nagamani went into labour and delivered a baby-boy on a steel bench where she had spent a harrowing time waiting for her turn to get into the labour room.
Adding to her woes, the newborn died a few minutes later after he accidentally fell off from her lap while she was resting on the bench, sources close to Nagamani’s family said.
When contacted, the District Headquarters Hospital Superintendent, Dr. Madan Singh, told The Hindu that Nagamani was admitted to the M&CHC on Saturday evening. She gave birth to a stillborn baby-boy in the labour room a few hours later the same night, he said, denying the allegations of any delay or negligence on the part of the staff in providing medical care to Nagamani.