In a heartbreaking incident in Hyderabad, a mom and her newborn died after she was allegedly denied admission by almost 5 hospitals on suspicion of being infected with COVID-19.
As per the reports by new Indian Express, Janeela, a 20-year-old mother who was in acute labor pain, was made to travel 200 km. And then made to wait for hours at five hospitals where the family was made to shuttle.
In the end, both mother and her one-day-old baby tragically succumbed to death.
The New Indian Express alleged how doctors at all the hospitals turned Janeela away as they did not want to touch her. All because she was from the Covid-containment district of Gadwal.
Janeela’s tragic tale began when she developed labor pain on April 24 in Yapadinne village in Gadwal district. Her husband, Mahendra, rushed her to the Government Hospital in Gadwal.
Though he pleaded doctors to save her, the doctors informed him that as she was in need of emergency surgery. So she should be taken to the Government Hospital in Mahabubnagar.
From there the couple went to Mahabubnagar. But on reaching Mahabubnagar, the couple found that doctors at the government hospital were not interested in admitting Janeela and performing the required surgery. They asked Janeela to go to Hyderabad.
According to Mahendra, they then went to Koti Maternity Hospital in Hyderabad but the staff there asked them to go to another hospital, Gandhi Hospital as the couple had come from Gadwal, a containment zone.
At Gandhi Hospital, after she tested negative, Janeela was sent to Petlaburj Maternity Hospital. Much to the couple’s relief, Janeela was admitted and a surgery was done. She gave birth to a baby boy on Saturday, making her forget the pain she had been through.
But what would break your heart is the fact that while this new mother was fighting for her own life, she watched her newborn dying just after a day because of respiratory complications at Niloufer Hospital on Sunday.
Finally, she gave up on her struggle and died on Monday. Her sad and heartbreaking tale moved the State Human Rights Commission.
After learning about the incident, the Commission sought a detailed report from the government on Tuesday and the hospitals where she was turned away from or treated. The SHRC sought to know why she was made to go through the agonizing ordeal.
Though the investigation is still on, we are heartbroken how this mother and her newborn were made to suffer. While we hope the authorities would take stringent steps against the culprits, we pray for this heartbroken husband who not only lost his wife but also his new-born baby.