MUKUT DAS

Guwahati, July 15, 2019

With more than four million people marooned as the ravaging flood engulfed maximum parts of the state, a health officer in Assam’s Golaghat district has set an example by fulfilling his commitment towards his service.

On July 15th, 2019, the health officer successfully saved two lives – mother and a newborn baby and it was perhaps, one of the remarkable achievements in his eight years of service as a Community Health Officer (CHO) in the Bortika Sub-centre under Bokakhat BPHC.

As the clock ticked 7 in the morning, the CHO  Trailokya Saikia received a phone call about a labor pain case from a village located at around 1.5 km distance from the sub-centre.

“I was worried after I received the call from Affala village. I could not think of any way to assist the pregnant woman initially,” Saikia said while speaking to TIME8.

It may be mentioned that a total of 73 out of 120 villages under Bokakhat sub-division in Golaghat district have been affected by the flood so far.

Saikia further said, “Immediately, I called the 108 Mriyunjoy ambulance service for assistance. But unfortunately, the situation was not feasible for any vehicle to ply on the road as the whole stretch leading to the village is reeling under floodwaters.”

Manju Chetry, the dedicated ASHA worker of the village led from the front to take the patient to the sub-centre for medical assistance. On the health officer’s advice, the ASHA worker shifted the patient to the sub-centre by a country- boat with the help of the family members and locals.

“The patient was shifted to the Mohuramukh MPHC for the delivery since the sub-centre is completely submerged under floodwaters,” Saikia shared.

The Mohuramukh MPHC primary health centre is located at around 8 km distance from the village.

Saikia further told TIME8 that the condition of the patient got critical as she was experiencing severe labour pain. “We were left with no option but to conduct the delivery on the boat with whatever medical equipment and essential medicines were available with us at that time,” Saikia added.

Eventually, 24-year-old Rumi Pathori gave birth to a baby boy (3.4 kg) in a healthy condition in front of the Goroimari High School.

“I was supported by the ASHA worker, two of her assistants and the ambulance technician while conducting the delivery,” Saikia said while thanking his team members for their dedication.

Later, the patient and her child were shifted and admitted to the Bokakhat SDCH, located at around 15 km distance from the village, for better medical assistance.

He further said, “It was definitely a tough call for me. But, we successfully did it.”

Talking about any such possible cases in the region, Saikia said, “As per the data, three pregnancy cases have been reported in the region as of now. We are monitoring them closely and asked them to inform us without any delay whenever they need any assistance.”