22 year old lady dies in labour

Team Udayavani, Feb 8, 2018, 6:08 PM IST

Kolar: Due to lack of doctors in Karnataka’s rural hospitals, a 22 year-old lady died while delivering a baby at a Primary Health Centre (PHC) where there were no doctors to help.

The deceased has been identified as Anusuyamma of Mathi village in Kolar district. She went into labour at 12.30 am on Wednesday. Her husband and brother Ramesh rushed her to the Maasti Primary Health Centre. Upon arriving, they realised that there was no doctor at the PHC. According to the sources, PHC had only one doctor, who had finished an 18-hour shift and gone home an hour before Anusuyamma was brought in.

Anusuyamma’s brother Ramesh told the media that when his sister was brought there was a nurse who took her to the labour ward and told us that she would call the doctor. But, even after an hour there was no sign of the doctor and they began to get worried, he said. When they enquired the nurse on Anusuyamma’s health, the nurse reassured them that she was well and there is nothing to be worried about.

At around 5.45 am, Anusuyamma began screaming and her relatives, who were at the hospital, began to worry. The nurse did not let anyone inside the labour ward. But Anusuyamma continued screaming and her husband barged into the ward to see Anusuyamma collapsed on the floor.

Ramesh said that they decided to take Anusuyamma to Malur Taluk hospital and asked the nurse to provide an ambulance. But the nurse told them that the ambulance was not functional and there was no driver too. Ramesh then hurried out to arrange for a vehicle. 

They found an auto and when they went to fetch Anusuyamma the nurse didnot allow them to take Anusuyamma. they continued fighting when Anusuyamma died at the hospital. Ramesh says that the hospital and it’s staffs killed his sister.

Angered and hurt by the treatment doled out to them, Anusuyamma’s family kept her body outside the PHC and sat down in protest. They said that they would not budge until the District Health Officer arrived and assured them of appropriate action.

The doctor, Tejashwini, did not come to give any answers. The Maasti Police came and asked the family to take the body and go away but Anusuyamma’s husband argued with the police. This angered the police and they began with lathi charge on them, Ramesh said.