Arjumand Shah
Srinagar : Administration has framed new protocols where a pregnant lady has to go COVID-19 test two weeks before estimated date of delivery (EDD) in Kashmir.
Kashmir has witnessed a surge in COVID-19 cases. At the same time, the pregnant ladies are facing immense inconvenience at the time of delivery. It has been seen that various hospitals have shown reluctance to conduct surgeries on pregnant women.
Taking note, administration has taken a serious note and has framed new protocols. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole has directed the health authorities to devise a birth plan for the pregnant women.
“The possibility shall be explored for sparing the separate maternity OT facility in the hospitals JLNM, SKIMS Bemina. However the pregnant ladies of the red zone areas shall be tested for the COVID 19 well before two weeks of EDD. Directorate of Health Services shall ensure that gynecology /OBG facilities in the district and sub district hospitals are functional at the separate block or nearest CHC for the convenience of the pregnant ladies,” read the directives of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, a copy of which lies with news agency KINS.
An official said execution of these directives can help the hospital authorities to take all necessary measures while admitting a COVID-19 pregnant lady.
“If COVID-19 test is done before pregnancy, health authorities can accordingly decide where her surgery has to be conducted,” the official said.
Two pregnant ladies have died in the last 10 days in Anantnag district due to alleged medical negligence.
One of them hailed from Kharpora village which has been declared a coronavirus red zone by the administration in south Kashmir- was pregnant with twins and was admitted to the maternity and child care hospital. She died with unborn babies. Following which the doctors at the hospital took her sample for testing, which turned positive.
Another pregnant also died but her family reportedly did not allow to take her samples for test.
The Anantnag district court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of the deaths and directed the Senior Superintendent of Police-Anantnag, to hold an inquiry into the matter.
A Principal District and Sessions Judge, Anantnag, in his order, said, “A video has gone viral on the social media sites where in a pregnant lady is being ferried on trolley by her relatives through the streets of Anantnag obviously for not having been provided an ambulance by the hospital authorities.”
The order also said, “This is not the first incident of medical negligence. A pregnant lady has also died at Bijbehara Hospital, who was denied treatment and this authority cannot watch such medical negligence as a mute spectator. Such kind of negligence needs an inquiry and persons involved in negligence must be brought to book so that trust of people that they have lost in the working of administration is reposed.”(KINS)
