ANGUL: In a shocking incident, the much-vaunted State-run ambulance services refused the emergency calls of a pregnant woman leaving her to die after childbirth in Angul town on Thursday night.
The 102 ambulance service under the Janani Surakhya scheme denied attendance to the woman, Sasmita Pradhan who had given birth to the baby and was sinking while the 108 service was not bothered. Tragically, Sasmita’s newborn baby perished a day later, on Friday.
According to reports, Dillip Pradhan of Manikjodi village near here had brought Sasmita to Angul in order to avail better medical facilities in the district headquarters hospital a few days back. Seven-month pregnant Sasmita was staying in the house of Dillip’s relative Dusmanta Bhoi at Sikhyakpara in the town.
According to Dusmanta, Sasmita complained of delivery pain on Thursday night when her husband, a truck driver, was away for work. She asked Dusmanta to call an ambulance. Before ambulance services could be contacted, she delivered a girl child.
Since Sasmita’s condition was serious, Dusmanta called 102 ambulance service under Janani Suraksha scheme of the State Government. But the person, who received the call, said they cannot send the ambulance as Sasmita had already delivered the child.
A desperate Dusmanta then dialled 108 for emergency ambulance service to shift Sasmita, who was sinking by that time, to a government hospital. But the response was negative again. Subsequently, Sasmita died in the house.
On Friday morning, the child, who was delivered premature, was admitted to a private nursing home in the town where she died.
Chief District Medical Officer Bidyadhar Sahu admitted negligence on the part of the ambulance service providers. On exigencies, calls made from district authorities for ambulance are not responded, he added.
“The ambulance services are not under our control. I have submitted a report to Collector on the incident,” Sahu said.
A tale of Negligence
Sasmita complained of delivery pain on Thursday night
102 ambulance service under the Janani Surakhya scheme denied attendance to the woman
A desperate Dusmanta dialled 108 for emergency ambulance service but the response was negative this time also
Subsequently, Sasmita died in the house