Nizamabad, September 26: Patients, particularly pregnant women, are worst affected by the ongoing Sakala Janula Samme (general strike), which entered its 13th day on Sunday.
Lack of transport (trains, buses and even autos) has adversely affected poor pregnant women who are unable to reach the nearest town or Nizamabad district headquarters to get periodical medical check-ups.
Private doctors who have also been extending their full support to the separate statehood cause and are taking active part in the movement, too confirmed that gynecologists have no work during the strike.
Some families in rural and interior areas have made arrangements for home deliveries.
There are around 30 gynecologists in Nizamabad town. Women from the town, nearby villages and neighbouring Karimnagar and Adilabad districts also visit hospitals here for treatment.
Due to the general strike, trains and buses have not been running for the last 36 hours.
The doctors’ lane (Khaleelwadi) in Nizamabad wore a deserted look as no patient is coming from other areas.
The strike by 108 ambulance staff has worsened the situation in rural areas.
Speaking to this newspaper, Doctors of Telangana State (Dots) secretary Dr N. Ramchander said that there was a steep decrease in women patients during the strike.
“We fear for the maternal and the infant mortality rate during the strike,” he said.
Shifting a pregnant woman to the hospital in a private vehicle is a costly affair now, he added.
Monthly check-ups for pregnant women have completely stopped, he explained.
—Source:DC