Will this be our fate always? Tribals ask Andhra govt after pregnant woman dies on stretcher in ASR

ASR: Shock and anger gripped the ASR district after a 20-year-old pregnant woman died while being carried on a stretcher in Koyyuru Mandal.

On June 20, at around 5 pm, Pangi Roja, 20 of Kumburla hilltop village went into labor. The family sought the help of ASHA worker K Shanti. Since she was serious and needed hospitalization, she was carried on a stretcher.

Unfortunately, after trekking for 2 km, Roja died even before she reached the nearby healthcare center. "Will this be our fate always? We have been requesting the tribal officials for a basic road, at least for an ambulance to reach the nearest place to our village. Doli (Palanquin) is the only means to shift ailing to the hospital. We also once approached Visakhapatnam District Collector to provide basic amenities for us. But there has been no response till now," said Pangi Chanti, husband of the deceased.

Trek down 8 km

Nestled atop a hilltop village, Kumburla is home to 45 families. They have to trek 8 km through a treacherous road to reach Arla village to get a transport facility.

From Arla village, they can board a vehicle to reach Downuru primary health care center (PHC), which is around 20 km away.

More than 800 habitations in 11 tribal mandals of Visakhapatnam do not have road connectivity. Things become extremely difficult during medical emergencies.

Many interior villages have no hospitals or health centers. The ambulances cannot reach the tribal region. The tribals use 'doli'. It is made of cloth harnessed to a wooden pole. It is used to take patients to the nearest point, from where from they are shifted in an ambulance.

Tribals built their road

According to the tribals, during 2020-21, locals pooled money and built a kutcha of 8 km of road. However, the road got washed away during the rain. Despite several representations, the government has not taken any action.

Admitting days before due date

According to the district health officials, they have been trying to help tribals during medical emergencies including deliveries. Officials said they shift the pregnant ladies to the hospital well before the expected date.

"There are many regions that do not have proper road connectivity, which is why we urge the families who have a pregnant woman at home, to get admitted days before the delivery. However, there are many tribals in the interior areas who opt for home delivery and are reluctant to get admitted to hospitals. When the situation turns critical, they rush to the hospital which makes things worse ", said an ASHA worker.

Not the first incident

This is not the first incident where pregnant women were carried on dolls to the nearest healthcare center. There are many incidences when pregnant women are delivered en route to the hospital.

In March 2023, 20-year-old pregnant woman Sukuru Lakshmi was carried in a doli for 4 km from Rachakilam village to Gummanti. From Gummanti, she was shifted to Pinnakota hospital in an ambulance. She was asked to go to Kotapadu area hospital in Anakapalle because the doctor at Pinnakota was not available. She was later shifted to King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam for better treatment.

In Nov 2022, a tribal woman gave birth to a baby girl on the road while being shifted to a hospital in Vanakabadi village of Komarada Mandal, in Paravathipuram Manyam district.

In Oct 2022, a tribal woman gave birth to a baby boy in Doli in Alluri Seetharamaraju District when she was being shifted to the healthcare center which is 20 km away from her village. The baby fell from the doli and also had a minor injury. They managed to reach the nearby road. She was later shifted to the Paderu government hospital.

In June 2021, a pregnant woman had to be carried in a 'doli' for 3 kilometers before a vehicle could be arranged to take her to a hospital at Marypadu tribal hamlet in Vizianagaram district.