Four women wait 18 hours for caesareans at Armori sub-district hospital as doctors are called in

The functioning of the sub-district hospital in Armori has come under question once again. Four pregnant women admitted for delivery had to wait a full 18 hours for caesarean operations. In the end, doctors had to be called from Gadchiroli and Dhanora before the caesarean deliveries could be performed. The mothers and babies are now said to be well.

According to the information available, the women were admitted to the Armori sub-district hospital for delivery. They had been told that the caesarean operations would be performed by 10 am on Friday. But the required medical officers were not present, so the operations were held up. The women and their relatives had to wait for several hours. Relatives said the women waiting for the operations had not had food or water since the previous night.

A relative of one patient informed social worker Dilip Ghodam. Ghodam rushed to the hospital and took stock of the situation. There, medical officer Dr Bansod said the doctors were not available and were on their way, which was why there was a delay. Ghodam asked why, if the required doctors were not there, the pregnant women had not been referred to Gadchiroli. In reply, Dr Bansod advised him to speak to senior officials.

The hospital superintendent, Dr Rajkumar Koroti, was on leave at the time. Ghodam nevertheless contacted him by phone and explained the entire situation. Dr Koroti took immediate note and called Dr Atram from Gadchiroli and Dr Dudhe from Dhanora to Armori. At around 5 pm, the caesarean operations on all four women were completed successfully. All the mothers and newborn babies are said to be safe. Relatives say the operations took place only because of timely intervention and persistent follow-up.

Questions are being raised after the incident. The absence of the required specialist doctors in a sensitive matter such as delivery is a serious issue. When the operations had been promised for 10 am, why were doctors not arranged in time? Why were other medical officers not arranged in advance? And why did the pregnant women have to wait 18 hours?

Ghodam and Vrinda Madavi, together with a patient's relative, have made a demand to District Surgeon Dr Ravi Gawande. They want the district health administration to investigate the incident and take the necessary action. They also want arrangements made so that the required doctors are present at the Armori sub-district hospital round the clock.