Nursing mother’s death sparks protests

Vijayawada: Death of a 28-year-old nursing mother in the Old Government General Hospital, Vijayawada, sparked protests from the family members and the Opposition parties on Tuesday.

The family members of the woman, P Swathi, alleged that the victim died due to falling from the bed, which she shared with another woman.
Due to insufficient beds in the hospital, the hospital authorities are providing one bed for two women. The victim, Swathi, a resident of Kothapeta was admitted to the hospital on Monday afternoon following labour pains.

She delivered a baby boy on Monday night and she was given a bed in the ward. However, she died on Tuesday afternoon after falling from the bed. The hospital doctors said the woman had died due to amniotic fluid embolism.

Dr S Babulal, Superintendent of GGH, told The Hans India that she faced some breathing problem due to amniotic fluid embolism. He further said she delivered a baby boy on Monday night and she had no other complications.

The incident came to light at about 2.30 pm. Soon after the death of the woman, the family members and Opposition parties began protests outside the maternity ward building. Swathi’s husband Kameswara Rao, an icecream vendor, alleged that there were no facilities at the hospital and two women shared one bed. He said she died because she fell from the bed. But, the doctors denied the allegations.

The Old GGH is the only government hospital available to lakhs of women residing in and around Vijayawada. The hospital is equipped with only three units. Each unit has 30 beds. But, each day, 30 women are admitted to the hospital for delivery.

Many poor women could not afford delivery in the private hospitals. So, there is huge demand for the maternity ward in the Old GGH. Hospital doctors said the hospital needs six units, i.e. at least 180 beds.

The superintendent said the government had decided to construct new building and site was allocated in the hospital for it. The hospital is also facing acute shortage of staff.

Two Professors, nine PG students, nine assistants and two associates are working in the hospital. The doctors said the hospital needs at least three times more staff to serve the patients. Besides, the hospital needs beds, wards, equipment and paramedical staff urgently to meet the demand.

Normal deliveries are more in the GGH compared to the private hospitals. So most women belonging to middle class and poor families, prefer the old GGH for the delivery.

Meanwhile, the Opposition parties staged a massive dharna at the hospital with the body of the victim. CPM State secretariat member Chigurupati Baburao, former MLAs and YSRCP leaders Malladi Vishnu, Velampalli Srinivas and activists of the DYFI and SFI protested at the hospital
demanding payment of Rs 20 lakh compensation to the kin of the victim.

Joint Collector P Baburao visited the hospital in the evening and held discussion with the family members and the Opposition leaders. He spoke to the higher authorities about the payment of compensation for the death in the hospital.

Earlier, District Collector B Lakshmikantham announced a probe with the Joint Collector on the reasons for the death of the woman after the delivery. Protests continued from afternoon to evening. Scores of police were posted at the hospital to prevent any untoward incident.