Delivery Outside Closed Health Centre: Probe Team Grills Doc, Staff

Cuttack: Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kumar Das has ordered a probe into the incident of a woman delivering a baby outside the closed community health centre (CHC) at Gurudijhatia near Athagarh.

Following the directive, a four-member team led by Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak arrived at the CHC for an investigation on Monday and interrogated the doctor and other staff.

One Kuni Maharana of Khamara Nuagaon village in Athagarh was brought to the CHC at Gurudijhatia on Sunday after she complained of labour pain. But as the CHC was closed, she had to deliver the baby under a tree on the premises.

Though the woman and her newborn were later rushed to a CHC at Brahmapur in Athagarh, the doctors there declared the baby dead.

Expressing grave concerned over the incident, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister and Athagarh MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain requested the Health Minister to order a probe into the incident.