Srinagar, Dec 13: While the state government continues making tall claims about healthcare sector in the state, Kashmir’s main maternity Lala Ded (LD) Hospital mocks at such claims as due to paucity of space and infrastructure, the authorities here have to accommodate even four patients on one single bed.
“New mothers, along with their newborns and mothers-to-be, writhing with labor pain, are forced to share the bed,” complained attendants.
Saleema, a patient from Bandipora and Sami Jan, from Kulgam both came all the way after crossing around 70 kms of distance to deliver their babies.
But little did they know about the problems they would face at Kashmir’s lone maternity hospital.
Both the ladies were lying on bed No 4 in the ward 105. They had to struggle to take care of themselves along with their babies.
This overcrowded ward has a total of 16 beds but hosts more than 20 patients. One patient’s feet are touching the head of other and vice versa.
“Such crammed atmosphere is creating trouble and discomfort for patients,” lamented attendants.
“They (patients) can’t even sleep for a moment as they fear that babies may fell down from the beds.”
Similarly, two other patients of Uttar Pradesh and Kashmir who are unfamiliar to each other were lying on bed No 06 of the same ward and had no different story to narrate.
The tale of miseries do not end here. The other wards including ward No 102 and 103 also have the same account.
When contacted, Medical Superintendent LD hospital Dr Shabir Siddiqui said that the hospital is over burdened as patients from across Kashmir land at LD.
“We have no other option but to make adjustments,” he said.
“One more maternity hospital in Bemina and several medical colleges in other areas are coming up. They will ease the load on LD,” he hoped.
