Nagpur: A mother and her newborn recently died during delivery at a hospital in Gadchiroli, taking the number of maternal-infant deaths to three in just 15 days. District surgeon Dr Varsha Lahade on Thursday stressed that timely registration and treatment could help reduce maternal deaths.
On Sept 8, she developed labour pains and her family took her to the Murumgaon primary health centre. On Aug 23, Jija Hansraj Satar (23), a resident of Jamgiri in Chamorshi taluka, and her baby died during delivery. On Aug 29, Najuka Diwakar Raut (28), from Kojbi in Chandrapur district’s Nagbhid taluka, died during delivery at the Gadchiroli Women and Child Hospital. Citing a recent case involving a 39-year-old pregnant woman from Alikheda village in Murumgaon, Lahade said the woman had not registered at a primary health centre during her pregnancy.
She also flagged delays in seeking treatment due to social and family-related factors.
The woman was brought to the hospital in an extremely critical condition with severe gasping, according to medical superintendent Madhuri Kilnake. Despite immediate treatment, she died shortly after admission, the superintendent said. “Around 6,900 cases have been referred to higher health facilities over the past four months,” she said.
As her condition turned critical, she was shifted to the Women and Child Hospital in Gadchiroli. She and her baby died during delivery. The family had alleged that timely treatment was not provided. Action in the case is pending. An inquiry is underway in the case. The civil surgeon cited a recent case of an extremely critical pregnancy at Kaliammal Hospital, Hedri, in Etapalli taluka, where timely diagnosis, availability of blood, necessary treatment and an emergency caesarean section helped save both the mother and newborn. As per Lahade, a significant number of high-risk pregnancies were being referred from remote and tribal areas of the district, making timely treatment of complicated cases a major challenge.
Dr Lahade on Thursday visited the Women and Child Hospital after the latest incident and sought details of the case.