Woman delivers baby near hospital gate in Bhanjanagar

Ganjam: In yet another case of medical apathy and unavailability of ambulance service, a woman was forced to deliver a baby near the gate of Bhanjanagar hospital in Ganjam district on Wednesday.
Basumati Naik of Asanapalli village under Jilundi panchayat in the district was admitted to the hospital by her family members after she complained of labour pain. She was later referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, citing complications in her condition.
According to sources, the ambulance for shifting her to Berhampur, however, didn’t turn up despite frantic calls by her family. The labour pain became intense and she gave birth to a baby near the hospital gate while waiting for the ambulance. The condition of the newborn and the woman is stated to be stable. Both are undergoing treatment at Bhanjanagar hospital.
On Tuesday, a similar incident was reported from Koraput district where a pregnant woman delivered her baby on office premises of Padapadar panchayat under Narayanpatna block after an 102 ambulance failed to arrive despite repeated calls.
On the same day in Rayagada district, family members of a pregnant woman of Talasaja block village under Kalyansinghpur block had to carry her on a stretcher over their shoulder for about 2 km across a river in waist-deep water. After reaching a pick-up point, she was taken to the nearby community health centre in a mobile health van.