PHC slams door, pregnant woman delivers on road

KANPUR: A pregnant woman delivered on a footpath near a busy road in Jalaun on a chilly evening after the primary health centre in the area, which ironically carries a billboard promising 24x7 maternity facility, refused admission.

The 22-year-old woman, Sonam, was in labour when the government health unit shut the doors on her and she managed to walk a few metres before slumping on the pavement.

While she screamed in labour, the health centre staff didn't bother to venture out or offer aid even as passersby erected a makeshift enclosure on the pavement with shawls and sticks while she gave birth to a baby girl.

Sonam, a resident of neighbouring Sirsa village, was in advanced stage of pregnancy when she came to the health centre with her husband, Bhupendra Barar on Wednesday. The district magistrate, Jalaun, has ordered a probe into why the woman was denied admission after waiting for hours.

Talking to TOI, Bhupendra said, "The health centre staff categorically told my wife to come after three days even though she was in pain. When we came out of the hospital, she went into labour and delivered the baby near the road.

Few women attendants and passersby helped her to deliver. The hospital staff didn't bother to enquire about the well-being of the daughter-mother duo even when they heard her agonizing screams. After the media was tipped off, hospital staff were jolted into action and swiftly admitted Sonam and her baby," he said.

Furious family members launched protests over the medical apathy. Additional chief medical superintendent B M Khare said, "It's a serious issue as hospital staff did not care to admit the patient. We swiftly ordered a probe. Doctors have to admit pregnant patients if they complain of pain. Action will be taken after the inquiry report is tabled."