Srinagar, June 13 (KNO): Amid Coronavirus threat, the expecting mothers in Kashmir Valley are turning victims of various tribulations with ‘least care and attention’ from the medicos.
One of the pregnant women Aisha (name changed) was tested positive for COVID-19 gave birth to a baby girl on May-22 narrates her ordeal during this period. She hails from a village in Awantipora
Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), she said that her sample was collected on May 14.
“On that day, I was at my in-laws home and unexpectedly our house was cordoned-off by the police and a medical team like they had to catch a militant or a thief. They took me to the nearby block level hospital and collected my samples for COVID-19,” she said.
She said that keeping in consideration her expected date for delivery, she was not allowed to take essentials like medicines, cash or clothes along, “They did not allow us to pick anything and we were bundled in an ambulance,” Aisha told KNO
She also said that on May 15 the reports of her sample tested positive for the virus and she was shifted to SKIMS medical college and hospital JVC Bemina.
“When I reached JVC, I was treated like a criminal. Everyone-be it para medical staff or a doctor were running away from me,” Aisha said, adding that she was in the 9th month of pregnancy and there was nobody to help and assist her.
“Back at home on May 14, while we were leaving for the tests I had brought some clothes along and on reaching JVC I was not in a condition to carry them along but nobody came for the help,” Aisha lamented.
She said she was all alone in JVC for three days and was suffering with labor pain while she repeatedly requested the medicos to call a doctor for her check-up. “I even told them my baby was not feeling well, but nobody paid heed to my calls,” she said.
Aisha said, “The medicos at JVC including nurses and other concerned officials kept on saying that all the doctors were having dinner and will visit me in an hour. The medical team was only concerned about their food, not a patient.”
“A few days after, when I was admitted to JVC, my blood and samples were taken twice for various tests including of COVID-19 and both times I was tested negative,” Aisha said.
She said there was nobody for her help apart from almighty Allah. “In the hospital ward there were 7 more pregnant ladies who suffered the same problems,” Aisha told KNO.
During pregnancy, there are a lot of things an expectant mother needs but nobody was there to help them. On May 21, the doctors informed Aisha that they had to conduct a caesarean section (C-Section), delivery—a two days before her expected date.
“I told them I was having nobody to take care of me during this period and without informing anybody, I called my sister who reached JVC to take care of me during the delivery,” she narrated.
She said the irony is that the concerned doctors even told her to buy the instruments and tools needed for the surgery on her own. “I had no one here to buy them. Even the officials did not give us enough time to bring cash along with us when we were picked up from home.”
“However, moments later, I told them I will speak to the principal of the hospital and they said they will do it on their own,” she said. Aisha said the JVC management did not even provide a diaper for her baby.
She said, “On May 27, I was shifted to Bijbehara where doctors refused to admit me and shifted me back to district hospital Pulwama.”
Aisha said she was not being given any balanced diet that an expectant mother needs even after the surgery. “I was compelled to feed my baby-girl via feeder.”
Principal SKIMS medical college Bemina, Professor Reyaz Untoo told KNO that the patients have to accept the diet which they are giving them and they are allowed to take home diet.
“As per requirement, whatever is needed we are providing them. We are doing local purchase because every individual has a different requirement,” he said.
Untoo said that the expected mothers are already getting Covid-19 treatment and you cannot expect a doctor to stay permanently in a ward.
“There are guidelines wherein doctors have to conduct a specific round for the check-up of the patients. You can’t expose doctors and paramedics more to the virus by staying just besides the bed side of a patient. There is a difference between the normal ward and Covid-19 ward,” he said.
Untoo said that they have phone numbers in the ward and if the patients have any emergency they can call any CMO’s number.
“The patients are expecting a corporate treatment which is not possible in government hospitals. Almost 50 patients have given birth babies here among those 14 went through major surgery, they did not complain of anything.” he said—(KNO)