Urgency at the Gate: A Tale of Unattended Labor in Tripura’s Hospital
Left unattended for hours, a Covid-positive woman unexpectedly gives birth at the gate of a hospital in Tripura.
Amidst the chaos, assistance arrived only postpartum. Clad in full protective gear, a doctor emerged from the hospital to assess the situation and promptly ushered the mother and newborn inside.
Agartala: In a distressing incident recounted by family members, a pregnant woman endured hours of intense labor at the entrance of a state-run hospital in Tripura’s capital, Agartala, after testing positive for COVID-19. Despite her critical condition, she went into labor while awaiting transportation to a designated COVID hospital.
It was only after the birth that hospital staff and bystanders sprang into action, rushing to her aid. A doctor from the state-run IGM hospital, donned in a PPE suit, emerged to examine the mother and escorted her, along with the newborn, into the facility. Subsequently, they were transferred to GBP hospital, designated for COVID-19 patients.
The incident, as explained by the BJP MLA and Chairman of the patient welfare committee at IGM hospital, occurred due to a delay in transferring the patient to a COVID-19 hospital. He reassured that both mother and child are now in stable condition at the COVID hospital.
Dr. Dilip Das remarked, “Following the patient’s positive test, protocol dictated her transfer to a COVID-19 hospital. Unfortunately, ambulance delay ensued. Nevertheless, both mother and child are now stable.”
According to eyewitnesses, during the night between Thursday and Friday, a pregnant woman arrived at IGM hospital in severe labor pains, only to test positive for COVID-19. Despite recommendations for transfer to GBP hospital, they remained stranded on the hospital premises for over an hour, awaiting an ambulance. Despite pleas to admit her due to her excruciating pain, they were denied entry by security personnel.
In the midst of this ordeal, she delivered her baby right at the hospital entrance.
The incident has sparked criticism of Tripura’s healthcare infrastructure, with allegations including a lack of oxygen supply in COVID ICUs. Ashish Kumar Saha, an MLA from the ruling party, has addressed these concerns in a letter to the Chief Minister.