Traffic on the busy Dharmagarh-Raipur National Highway came to a grinding halt on Saturday after the death of pregnant health activist due to alleged medical negligence led to a massive road blocking protest.
Ironically, the deceased, Sumitra Rout was an Asha (Accredited Social Health Activist), a trained female community health activist engaged in providing help to pregnant women and facilitating their safe and institutional delivery. She hailed from Tenapali village.
As per reports, family members and relatives admitted Sumitra to Dharmagarh Sub-Division hospital on Friday evening after she got into labour. However, she succumbed while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The family members and relatives alleged that the expectant mother died due to medical negligence.
"The doctors were very casual in their approach while attending to Sumitra. When her condition deteriorated, they immediately referred her to the District Headquarter Hospital in Bhawanipatna at around 3 am. She passed away in the process," said one relative.
The angry family members and relatives of the deceased along with some local people staged a protest on Dharmagarh-Raipur National Highway. The protestors raised slogans against the medical authorities and demanded strong action against the erring doctors for their alleged negligence in treatment. Vehicular movement along the road was disrupted for a long period of time due to the protest.
"We are staging the road blockade demanding justice for the pregnant Asha worker who lost her life due to medical negligence. Strong action should be taken against the erring doctors immediately," said a protestor.
(Edited by Ramakant Biswas)