Public outcry after bleeding woman carried to hospital

NALLA RAM | DC The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and sent a notice to Andhra Pradesh government and sought a detailed report within four weeks.

A video clip showing a 25year-old woman, suffering from the excessive bleeding following a miscarriage, being carried on a makeshift stretcher through a 12-km hilly stretch in Vizianagaram district due to lack of ambulance service has drawn wide public criticism.

The incident, which took place in Kodhama Panchayat of Saluru Mandal in Vizianagaram district on Monday, has exposed the lack of health facilities in the remote areas under ITDA Parvathipuram in the district.

Ms Kondathamara Gindamma alias Gindi was five months pregnant when she suffered the miscarriage on Sunday night at her tribal hamlet Sirivara. She was being taken to a nearby hospital on Monday evening. However, due to lack of road access, the villagers were forced to carry her to nearby Duggeru village where ambulance service was available.

Speaking to DC, DMHO, Vizianagaram, Dr K. Vijayalakshmi said, “The woman was a manual labourer. Physical strain and deficiency of nutritious food led to the miscarriage. The woman was later shifted to Parvathipuram Hospital in a 108 service ambulance. She was administered five units of blood. Now her condition is stable.”

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and sent a notice to the chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh government and sought a detailed report within four weeks. The Commission observed that if the contents of the media report were found to be true, it amounts serious violation of human rights as proper roads and healthcare were basic amenities to be provided by the state to its citizens.

The government is also expected to inform the NHRC the number of incidents in the past one year and the action taken by the authorities on them.