RANCHI: Health services in Jharkhand have been crippled as the drivers and co-drivers associated with the 108 ambulance service have gone on an indefinite strike from Tuesday, demanding salary and other basic facilities.
Due to the unavailability of an ambulance, a pregnant woman had to be taken to Sadar Hospital in an e-rickshaw. She gave birth to a baby girl at the hospital's emergency gate, as she arrived in critical state.
The woman, who was suffering from labour pain, was taken to the hospital by her family in an e-rickshaw (toto). By the time she reached the hospital premises, her condition had become extremely critical. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, supervisor Ajit Kumar and trolley man Sumit Khes, posted at the main gate, immediately tried to take the woman to the labour room. The nursing staff on duty was also called immediately.
However, the labour pain had increased to such an extent that it was not possible to take the woman into the hospital.
“Therefore, the delivery process was started at the emergency gate itself by making a temporary enclosure on the stairs. The nurses showed promptness and helped the woman deliver the baby. After that, the mother was shifted to the labour room and then to the ward,” said a local doctor requesting anonymity.
According to the hospital management, the condition of both the mother and the newborn baby is currently stable and healthy.
Notably, hundreds of ambulance workers across the state are on strike, alleging that the company has not been paying salaries for the last six months. Apart from this, regular maintenance of ambulances has not been done, and appointment letters have not been given to the employees.
According to the workers, they had given a written notice of the strike to the Health Department and the Deputy Commissioner of the district 14 days ago, but no one paid attention to their problems, and, ultimately, they were forced to protest.
Primary demands of the workers include regular salary payments, vehicle maintenance, formal appointment letters, and insurance and other social security facilities for the employees.
A warning has been given to continue the strike until proper action is taken on these demands.
Notably, State BJP president and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi had also written to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, urging him to take the demands of the ambulance workers seriously.
He has asked the CM to ensure that the genuine demands of the workers are fulfilled and that health facilities across the state are not affected.