Nagpur: A mother and her newborn recently died during delivery at a hospital in Gadchiroli, taking the number of maternal-infant deaths to three in just 15 days. District surgeon Dr Varsha Lahade on Thursday stressed that timely registration and treatment could help reduce maternal deaths.Divya Ramsingh Usendi (31), a resident of Murumgaon in Dhanora taluka, is the latest victim. She had returned to her village from Tamil Nadu, where she had gone for employment, a few days ago as her delivery date approached.On Sept 8, she developed labour pains and her family took her to the Murumgaon primary health centre. As her condition turned critical, she was shifted to the Women and Child Hospital in Gadchiroli. She and her baby died during delivery.On Aug 23, Jija Hansraj Satar (23), a resident of Jamgiri in Chamorshi taluka, and her baby died during delivery. The family had alleged that timely treatment was not provided. Action in the case is pending.On Aug 29, Najuka Diwakar Raut (28), from Kojbi in Chandrapur district’s Nagbhid taluka, died during delivery at the Gadchiroli Women and Child Hospital. An inquiry is underway in the case.Dr Lahade on Thursday visited the Women and Child Hospital after the latest incident and sought details of the case. According to medical superintendent Madhuri Kilnake, the woman was brought to the hospital in an extremely critical condition with severe gasping. Despite immediate treatment, she died shortly after admission, the superintendent said.The civil surgeon cited a recent case of an extremely critical pregnancy at Kaliammal Hospital, Hedri, in Etapalli taluka, where timely diagnosis, availability of blood, necessary treatment and an emergency caesarean section helped save both the mother and newborn.As per Lahade, a significant number of high-risk pregnancies were being referred from remote and tribal areas of the district, making timely treatment of complicated cases a major challenge. “Around 6,900 cases have been referred to higher health facilities over the past four months,” she said.She also flagged delays in seeking treatment due to social and family-related factors. Citing a recent case involving a 39-year-old pregnant woman from Alikheda village in Murumgaon, Lahade said the woman had not registered at a primary health centre during her pregnancy.Lahade said regular antenatal registration, check-ups and monitoring were essential to identify anaemia, high blood pressure, infections and other pregnancy-related complications early. She appealed to women to register their pregnancy during the first trimester through ASHA workers, primary health centres or nearby govt health facilities and seek medical care without delay whenever complications arise.
