RODENTS AND OBSTETRICS

OBSTETRICS As South Kashmir’s main maternity hospital operates from a rundown building, the mothers and the new born have to co-exist with rodents along with the staff. The hospital can be managed better if it shifts to the new space

- Umar Khurshid

Sharing the fear, attendants of two expectant mothers inside the snowcovered lawn of Anantnag’s Maternity and Child Hospital (MCH), are suggesting each other to remain vigilant during the night. “What are you people discussing,” asked the third female attendant sitting on their right. “The big rats, right?”

The two attendants Rozy, 32, and Zubaida, 36, of a Kokernag village are discussing ways and means to stay awake during the night fearing the rats roaming in good numbers might bite them. “We will ask two more attendants to join us for the night talks,” Zubaida suggested her sister-inlaw Rozy. Joined by the third attendant, Gulshana 45, of Seer village near Mattan, the trio is terrified to sleep at a place where rats leave attendants frightened.

On December 16 morning, Zubaida and Rosy brought their pregnant sister-in-law to the hospital where she delivered a healthy baby. Later the patient was shifted from the Labour Room to an inside ward. The same evening, the tired duo thought to relax for some time. “As soon as we spread a plastic mat on the floor, a big rat ran next to my pillow,” Zubai da recalls. Same night, around 2 AM, two more bulky rodents joined the first one. Nobody in the ward could sleep. For the four nights, they would live with cries: Yeki Ha, Houtnus (It is here, there).

In the same ward was an elder-ly attendant Hjira of LiddruPahalgam. Doctors suggested her to wait till the ward is sanitized; an early morning process by the hospital’s cleaning staff.

Two days back, her daughter Jozia, 23, complained of labour pain and she was shifted to MCH Anantnag. On the first night inside the ward the mother and daughter had their introduction to the bulky rodents that shocked and surprised them.