28 out of 31 posts of Doctors lying vacant
Excelsior Correspondent
MAHORE, July 23: Due to non-availability of doctor in the local hospitals, yet another pregnant woman and her new born died soon after the delivery in this remote area of Reasi district when the entire nation was celebrating India’s successful moon mission launching.
Reports said that Rashmi Begum, wife of Bashir Ahmed of Dewal Marg and her new born baby died soon after the delivery on way to Mahore Sub-District Hospital as there was no doctor at PHC Dewal, where she was admitted after experiencing labour pain yesterday morning.
Since all three posts of MBBS doctors at NPHC Dewal and four posts of MBBS doctors at nearby NPHC Lar are lying vacant since long, the para-medical staff present on the duty referred her to Sub-District Hospital Mahore. However, when the woman was being taken to Mahore on a cot, she delivered a dead baby and also died midway.
Even as the Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Indu Kanwal Chib has constituted a two-member inquiry committee to probe into the lapses that led to the death of woman and her new born child, locals said that this was not the first incident of its kind and death of pregnant women because of non-availability of doctors in Mahore area was a routine feature.
It may sound incredible but it is true that despite having more than two dozen sanctioned posts of MBBS doctors in Mahore Block, there is only one regular Medical Officer in the entire area. In absence of doctors, aspiring for motherhood is virtually suicidal and spells inviting death because of no timely medical aid during emergency.
In Mahore block, there are 65 Health Centres, including one Sub-District Hospital, 12 PHCs and 52 Sub-Centre. Even as for these Health Centres and Hospitals, 26 posts of regular Medical Officers (MBBS) and five under NHM have been sanctioned, all are lying vacant except three.
Besides BMO Mahore Sub-District Hospital, PHC Arnas and PHC Bagodass have one each MBBS doctor under NHM. Hence, 28 out of 31 posts of MBBS doctors in Mahore block are lying vacant since long.
Even at the Sub-District Hospital Mahore, all the six posts of regular Medical Officers, one Dental Surgeon and two MBBS doctors are lying vacant while the BMO is also going to attain the age of superannuation in next two months.
In absence of doctors and more particularly any Gynaecologist in entire Mahore block, there is no option other than to refer the patients to District Hospital Reasi in case of emergency and the bumpy ride on extremely bad conditioned roads guarantees deterioration of condition of the pregnant women and various times death of the mother as well as the infant.
Follow our WhatsApp channel