THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj Jan 31: A lactating mother who gave birth to a child was denied a bed in the Sub-Divisional Hospital Hussainabad in Palamu on the intervening night of January 29/30.
She was forced to spend the winter night on the floor of the hospital. She slept with her suckling infant under her own blanket on January 29/30.
The Jharkhand Story maintaining the policy of the privacy of the woman, is withholding the name and address of the mother who so spent the winter night on the floor with just time worn ‘gadda’ as a slice of bed between her body and the cold floor of the hospital.
The gadda too was not of the hospital but of a tent house taken on rent by the hospital.
Civil Surgeon’s surprise inspection unveils appalling conditions
This grim helplessness of the young mother and colossal apathy of the medical staff from doctors to nurses would not have come to light had the Civil Surgeon Dr Anil Kumar not made a surprise inspection of the Sub-Divisional Hospital Hussainabad on Thursday, January 30.
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“I did find this young mother with her infant lying on the floor of this hospital. She told me she spent her winter night sleeping like this on the floor,” admitted Dr Anil Kumar.
Hospital staff slammed for apathy and negligence
“There can’t be any more shamelessness on the part of the medical and para medics here than this. It’s an act of sub-human treatment,” conceded the Civil Surgeon.
He said in the same vein, “There were beds quite unoccupied here on the intervening night of January 29/30. But none bothered to provide a bed for this woman. She was left to fend for herself.”
“This is just not acceptable. The BPM (Block Programme Manager) Vibhuti feigns ignorance of this episode. The medical officer in charge of the sub-divisional hospital Hussainabad Dr Binesh told me that this matter was not brought to his notice. Is this the way to manage the patients here?” quipped the Civil Surgeon.
Mother given bed after Civil Surgeon’s intervention
Following the intervention by the Civil Surgeon, the mother was provided with a bed around 1.45 pm on January 30. There were five beds which were found empty then.
The Sub-Divisional Hospital Hussainabad is a total mess said sources. It’s time to transfer its staff from here to other places. These staff here have developed a kind of vested interest. They believe there will be no harm to them.