Pathetic connectivity in Tamenglong district
Expectant mother carried on bamboo cot for hours
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 13 2020: The sorry state of connectivity in the interiors of Tamenglong district has forced villagers to carry an expectant mother on a makeshift bamboo cot on foot for hours to the nearest hospital for delivery.

Fortunately, Siwang, the 19-year-old woman from Dunong village in Tamei sub-division has given birth to a baby boy at Tamei Hospital.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Bijoybou, Siwang's husband who is now a proud father of a baby boy, said he is feeling relieved that both the mother and the child are safe.

"I had the worst fear that I would lose both (mother and child), but now I'm feeling lucky.

I thank God for his mercy," Bijoybou said recalling the difficulties he and the villagers had endured yesterday when they brought his wife to the hospital.

"As my wife was nearing labour and in pain, I hardly slept at night and consulted my family and friends to take her to Tamei hospital in the morning," he said.

At around 6 am (yesterday), the villagers gathered and extended all the support they could.

As there are no proper motorable roads, the villagers cut bamboos to make a makeshift cot to carry her on foot, he said thanking the villagers for their support and kindness.

In order to bring the expectant mother to Tamei hospital, the villagers had to carry her on foot till Chaton village for more than 4 hours and then arrange a vehicle and travel about 80 kilometres further.

"After we made the makeshift bamboo cot, we began our journey on foot on the rugged hilly terrain.

Due to rains, the road was slippery and few of our villagers also slipped off the road into a shallow stream during the journey.

It took more than 4 hours to reach Chaton village," he said.

After they reached Chaton village, they hired a Shaktiman to further evacuate his wife to Tamei hospital.

Even as they reached the proper road, the danger was not yet over.

"The road was rugged and in poor condition.

It was broken and filled with broken rocks and boulders.

I was afraid that something bad and terrible would happen.

After hours, we reached Tamei hospital," Bijoybou said.

Once they reached Tamei hospital, his wife was tested for COVID-19 .

She delivered a baby boy at night yesterday, he said.

Bijoybou also mentioned that he and his wife Siwang were staying at Chennai doing part-time jobs.

Meanwhile, recalling the horror of their journey from Dunong village to the hospital, one of the villagers lamented that lack of developmental works in the region for years have made the people suffer to the extreme.

"The villages in the region have no proper motorable roads.

In times of medical emergencies, we have to carry the ailing elders and expectant mothers on bamboo cots for hours to the hospital," he said adding there have been many deaths among ailing elders of the villages due to poor connectivity and lack of medical facilities.

"As the connectivity is not good, in times of labour related emergencies, local Maibis deliver babies.

There have also been some deaths," he said.

The region needs easily accessible medical care facilities and good connectivity.

The road from Chaton to Tamei hospital is also in very bad condition.

At places, the road is infested with tall grasses.

Some years ago, the Public Works Department undertook road reconstruction work.

But only shingling was done and as such the road is rugged and dangerous to pregnant women, he added.

To develop Manipur, the hills must be developed, he said.

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