Health centre locked, 28-year-old UP woman forced to give birth outside facility

Following the incident, the health department has decided to arrange accommodation for the ANM near the centre to prevent such cases in the future. It added that the infant, a baby boy, and his mother, Maju, are safe and have been discharged after receiving medical care.

In a video of the incident circulating on social media, farmer Sujeet Kumar is purportedly heard saying that his wife suddenly went into labour on Thursday night. He immediately called the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), locally known as the ASHA bahu, to accompany them to the Bijpur health centre.

“When we reached the PHC, it was locked. The ASHA bahu then called the ANM on her phone, but she kept making excuses about not having the keys to the centre. Meanwhile, my wife developed labour pains and delivered the baby boy right outside the gate,” he alleged in the video.

He added that a few minutes later, the ANM arrived and shifted his wife and child inside the facility for further treatment.

When contacted, Sonbhadra Chief Medical Officer Dr Ashwani Kumar said the centre where the incident occurred is an Additional PHC, where only OPD services are provided. He explained that such centres have just one medical officer, one pharmacist, and one ANM posted.

Responding to claims that the ANM delayed arriving, Dr Kumar said, “The Additional PHC at Bijpur is functioning from a building, while the ANM’s accommodation is about 800 metres away. The inquiry revealed that the ASHA worker was present with the woman during the delivery. Before the ANM could arrive, the woman gave birth, after which the ANM, with the help of the ASHA worker, shifted her inside and completed the formalities.”

He added that the department is considering requesting to arrange accommodation for the ANM in the same building where the Additional PHC is running.

ASHA workers are community health volunteers under the National Health Mission who connect rural communities with healthcare services. They assist pregnant women with check-ups, proper care, hospital deliveries, and postnatal support.

ANMs are responsible for providing healthcare services, such as ante-natal and post-natal care, immunisation, family planning, and conducting deliveries.

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