Sohra CHC staff negligence led to baby’s death: CSWO

SHILLONG, Feb 24: Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) has alleged that a baby had died at the Sohra CHC (community health centre) in East Khasi Hills last week reportedly because of negligence on the part of the medical staff of the government facility.
CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing informed on Wednesday that a baby boy died at the Sohra CHC on February 19.
“The mother, who delivered the baby, informed that she went to the health centre circa 4 am of February 19 as she was in labour pain. However, as the gynaecologist was on leave, the staff on duty had put her in the labour room. But after some tests, the nurse asked her attendants to take her to the ward as they were told it was still not time for her to be in the labour room,” she said.
According to Kharshiing, the relatives were left surprised after the woman was sent out of the labour room in that condition.
“They, however, thought it was a new procedure and did not dare to ask the staff thereafter. The nurse had said that a scan was required even as there was no scanning machine at the CHC,” she said.
“The woman was also told to go to Shillong because her delivery was on (2/2/2021) February 2, 2021 (as mentioned), in the card. But a doctor, who checked the date, said that there was a mistake and corrected the date to (2/3/2021) March 2, 2021, and not as earlier mentioned,” she added.
The CSWO president also informed that the woman had labour pain while she was in the ward, and later, delivered the child which unfortunately died.
Maintaining that many children and mothers were dying in the state, Kharshiing said, “We have also been informed that some nurses and doctors were getting appointments in government posts through the back door, by paying to get the jobs.”