A group of dedicated healthcare workers in Tripura demonstrated their firm commitment when they braved challenging terrain using innovative techniques to ensure the safe delivery of a baby in the remote Samaruchhara area.
Their courageous efforts not only brought joy to the family but also aptly demonstrated the strength and resilience of community healthcare systems in tackling adversities and reach the unreached people seeking emergency medical help.
The incident began on December 3 when a 22-year-old pregnant woman from Samaruchhara, under Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Jamtail Bari under the Unakoti District in Tripura, went into labor. As the remote area lacks proper road connectivity, the woman’s family quickly reached out to local healthcare workers for assistance.
Responding promptly, the team conducted an initial assessment at her home and determined that an urgent delivery was necessary.
Faced with the challenge of transporting the expectant mother through rugged terrain where no ambulance or vehicle could reach, the healthcare workers and family members improvised a stretcher using bamboo and cloth.
For nearly two kilometers, the team carried the woman on their shoulders, navigating treacherous paths before reaching a vehicle that could transport her to the Unakoti District Hospital.
Thanks to the mother’s regular prenatal checkups at the Nishiranjan Nandita Memorial Primary Health Center, the hospital staff had ready access to her medical records, streamlining her admission process.
Under the leadership of Nursing Officer Jaba Debbarma, the team facilitated a smooth and successful normal delivery on the same day. The woman gave birth to a healthy baby girl, her second child.
While the heroics of the health workers were rightly appreciated, the awareness of the woman and her family in conducting regular health checkups at the local health centre proved to be deciding factor for a speedy admission into the Hospital for a smooth and safe delivery.
The mother and newborn are both in good health and are currently receiving free postnatal care, including essential medicines and guidance on newborn care. Healthcare workers also ensured that the family was well-informed about best practices for caring for the baby.
The healthcare team, comprising MPWs Lian Lalbul Halam and Firthinis Halam, ASHA facilitator Anupa Malakar, and ASHA worker Hemlata Debbarma, worked tirelessly to provide critical care under challenging circumstances.
They received logistical support from Jola Program Manager Alokesh Nandi and Community Health Officer Debashree Deb of Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
The family expressed their deep gratitude to the healthcare workers, whose dedication and ingenuity turned what could have been a crisis into a success story. “Their quick thinking and selflessness saved both lives. We cannot thank them enough,” a family member said.
The Department of Family Welfare and Disease Prevention lauded the healthcare team’s efforts in a press release, emphasizing the importance of community health workers in delivering lifesaving services to even the most inaccessible areas.
(Tripura, Northeast)