Civil voluntary organisations and student unions have appealed to the enquiry committee formed in connection with the death of a pregnant lady Kanpatliu Kamei and her unborn child on August 6 to be fair and just in their investigation.
The Inpui Naga Union (INU), Inpui Naga Women's Union (INWU) and All Inpui Students Union (AISU) have demanded completion of the enquiry within the stipulated period and to bring out all those involved in the “gross negligence” and immediately suspend all the medical staff, doctors involved in this “gross denial of basic rights”.
In a joint release issued on Friday, the organisations also demanded compensation for the family of the deceased and warned that any influence by any vested party in an attempt to protect any person involved in this medical negligence will not be accepted.
Claiming that the deceased would not have faced such fate if there had been a proper medical facility at Makuilongdi village itself, the organisations appealed to the state government to expedite and check the various health infrastructures in the hills particularly in the remote districts, subdivision and villages.
Condemning the alleged negligence on the part of few government and private hospitals in the state which led to the unfortunate incident, the organisations appealed to the state government to make necessary arrangements for maternity care in all districts and sub-divisions with provision for ambulances in emergency cases.
The organisations also condemned the careless indifferent attitudes of the topmost government and private medical institutions in that state for allegedly denying the right to access of healthcare to the pregnant women.
The release stated that there is one dispensary for about a population of 1,200 which is not functional and with no medical staff stationed at Makuilongdi village for more than two decades.
Informing that the nearest district hospital, located at Senapati is about 20 Kms from Makuilongdi village, the organisations also drew attention of the Health department to immediately send medical staff at the dispensary.
The organisation also demanded immediate suspensions of any staff posted at the dispensary but who are not available at their duty. Further the organisation also appealed to the PWD to maintain road infrastructure of the villages from Senapati.
The organisations also questioned the reasons why the deceased, despite having COVID-19 negative certificate, was denied admission at JNIMS and RIMS, Imphal Hospital, Raj Medicity and Shija Hospital.
Further the organisations questioned why the state imposes harsh restrictions in the name of COVID-19 lockdown whereby the non COVID-19 patients are not able to access medical facilities.
Condemning the incident, The Thadou Youth Association (TYA) general headquarters demanded the district magistrates of Senapati and the state government to immediately carry out a probe and take action against the responsible officers and the hospitals.
In a release, the association also suggested that communication should be established with other hospitals in case of referral to minimise delay in admission and treatment.
The hospitals that denied admission as well as the state government should compensate the victims’ family, failing which TYA along with other civil organisations and the general public will take its own course of action, the release stated.
