Family alleges doctor was absent at PHC Sheikhpora; BMO says ambulance couldn’t proceed twice due to road closure, SDM says BRO approached for clearance
Gurez, Oct 14: A newborn baby died at the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Dawar in Gurez, while the mother was declared brought dead after being referred to Bandipora, in an incident that has once again exposed the fragility of emergency maternal healthcare in this remote Himalayan region.
According to the Block Medical Officer (BMO) Gurez, the woman was referred from Primary Health Centre (PHC) Sheikhpora with a haemoglobin level of 5 g/dL and arrived at SDH Dawar in a state of shock, with intrauterine death (IUD) already reported.
The BMO told doctors at SDH Dawar tried their best to save her and attempted to refer her to Bandipora in time. The ambulance, however, could not proceed towards Bandipora twice due to restrictions imposed amid a road closure, the BMO said.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Gurez told that the administration made every effort to facilitate the ambulance’s movement. Snow had accumulated on the road and snowfall was continuing, making movement difficult, the SDM said, adding that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was approached early in the morning with a request to clear the road. The patient was referred to Bandipora early that morning, the SDM said.
The family, meanwhile, has alleged that a doctor was unavailable at PHC Sheikhpora when the woman needed medical attention.
The deaths have triggered questions over blood availability and emergency obstetric services at SDH Dawar, with locals asking what purpose the claimed blood bank facility in Gurez serves if blood is not available during critical emergencies.
Residents have demanded a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the treatment provided at PHC Sheikhpora and SDH Dawar, the availability of blood, the timeline of the referral and the efforts made to facilitate the ambulance’s movement to Bandipora.
The incident has once again underscored the difficulties faced by residents of remote areas during medical emergencies, when adverse weather and road closures cut off access to specialised healthcare. (KNS)
