New mums thank admn for timely move to hospitals

BHUBANESWAR: Like most expectant mothers Ranu Jena had been dreaming about the day she would hear the first cry of her baby. But she had hardly imagined she would have to give birth with a cyclonic storm bearing down on the state.
“It is my first delivery and obviously I was quite excited but also nervous due to the Covid situation. My date of delivery was Wednesday when the cyclone was expected to hit Balasore district. When ASHA didi came and said I have to be shifted to hospital, my heart started pounding. But I understood it was for the safety of me and my child and I am thankful to the administration for that,” Ranu said. She gave birth to a boy on Tuesday evening at Balasore municipality hospital.
Like Ranu, several pregnant women with due date prior to June 1 were reluctant to go to hospital with Cyclone Yaas approaching. After much persuasion, over 4,000 pregnant women were shifted to hospitals of whom 774 gave birth in the last two days in 10 coastal districts affected by the cyclone.
“It was indeed a challenge but shifting pregnant women and children to safer places has always been our priority as we consider them a sensitive group. Due to the Covid pandemic, we preferred shifting expecting mothers to hospitals. We ensured that the shifting and treatment were carried out following Covid protocol,” said Rashmi Ranjan Nayak, joint secretary, women and child development department.
Rashmi Behera from Rupsa has also been thanking the health workers who helped her shift to Balasore district headquarters hospital amid the twin crisis of cyclone and Covid. “Initially we were a bit hesitant due to the fear of Covid infection but now we realise we made the right decision. The health workers helped us a lot. A little delay and the situation would have been difficult,” said Ramakanta Behera, Rashmi’s husband. Rashmi gave birth to a boy on Tuesday night and the baby is in NICU as he is not well. “We pray for his recovery,” he said.
However, all the shifting and delivery were not very smooth. Barsha Bindhani of Jaleswar had a harrowing time as she was expecting her first child by May 31. “Due to the ensuing cyclone when ASHA didi suggested we shift her to the hospital, we thought it was too early. At Jaleswar hospital her condition deteriorated and doctors referred us to Balasore on Tuesday night. It was raining heavily and the wind was very strong. I did not feel it was safe to travel in that scary weather condition. So I took her to a private nursing home and she gave birth to a daughter there,” said Benudhar Jati, Barsha’s husband.
District social welfare officer of Balasore, Lambodar Sethi said, “Despite challenges, we tried our best to shift all expecting mothers to hospitals.”
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