Protest over death of infant in utero, outside Kannagi Nagar urban community health centre

After the death of an infant in the mother’s womb, the father staged a protest at the Greater Chennai Corporation’s Urban Community Health Centre in Kannagi Nagar.

S. Augustin, 29, a Thoraipakkam resident, staged a protest at the UCHC along local residents on Saturday, urging the Tamil Nadu government to deploy at least two doctors per centre across the city to avoid any such mishaps in the future. He claimed that repetitive delays in accessing health care had led to his baby’s death.

He said his wife A. Deepika, 27, went into labour at 2:30 a.m. on Friday, and since an ambulance could not be sent, he took an autorickshaw to the clinic. He further claimed that there was no stretcher, wheelchair, or doctor available to attend to his bleeding wife, and that the nurse had asked him to take his wife to another hospital 17 km away, after doing a scan. “After a scan, she was referred to Gosha Hospital in Triplicane. Doctors at the hospital said that the baby had died in the womb.

Meanwhile, a senior official in GCC’s Public Health Department stated that the patient was bleeding and had several complications that could not be addressed in a UCHC, hence they were immediately referred to the Government Kasturbha Gandhi (Gosha) Hospital after first aid was offered. Further investigation on staff shortage will be done, the official added.

Nurses at UCHC said three doctors were assigned to serve at this particular centre and three other UPHCs in Thoraipakkam and Semenchery. As a result, there were some nights where doctors were not present at the centre, and the nurses were in charge.

“The patient had gone into labour preterm and was bleeding on arrival. There were also complications due to blood clots. To treat these conditions and efficiently deliver the baby, there has to be at least an incubator, an obstetrician and a paediatrician. On February 7 night, there was no doctor on campus, hence they were referred to Gosha Hospital after first aid for bleeding and a scan was done,” a nurse stated.

The nurses also claimed many seek transfer from Kannagi Nagar as there have been instances of assault on medical staff by inebriated youth from across the area.

The GCC official said all vacancies in centres were filled through the National Health Mission recruitment. For new vacancies, a waiting list has been moved and medical officers have joined, he said.