24.12.2020
Thursday
It was a day I had an epiphany of sorts. It was a day I will fondly remember for a long long time. It was a day where a random chain of events led to something beautiful- a baby girl! Let me walk you through. We (Priyanka, Swati, Nilanshu and I) headed to the Musahar tola of Jagdishpur. I had always wanted to work with this community, since it is the most deprived community, called as “Dalits among Dalits”. This tola was outside the village, a typical form of residential segregation practiced against Dalits.
We stopped our vehicle on the road and crossed a few fields to reach the housing area. As we were walking through the fields we were discussing about the need for approach road. Little did we know, what was to come next just underlined our discussion.
As we neared the first house, one could see the lack of sanitation. The houses were dilapidated. As we moved and reached the first house, we requested the people to gather for a meeting. A family member told us he couldn’t come since his wife is unwell and he was waiting for a vehicle. There was a lack of clarity about this situation. Next, we called other villagers and requested for a meeting.
However, Swati realized, something was amiss. We went to the first house and again had a look at the woman who was unwell. Actually, she wasn’t unwell, she was in labor. Her husband said he had called for a vehicle from the village to take her to the hospital. But it hadn’t reached since 2 hours. He also called a local ‘practitioner’.
However, soon we realized that they were not taking the pregnant lady to the hospital since they did not have money for the transport. They did not even have the money to pay for the medicines, if required, at the government hospital. So they called the local practitioner since he takes money after 5-10 days for the delivery. Imagine a women being denied institutional delivery owing to lack of money! This happens, happens often.
One might say there are “n” number of schemes for institutional delivery at government hospital. This is where my friend, we understand the difference between the field and paper. On enquiring we were told that the ASHA hadn’t responded and the hospital ambulance wasn’t working. However, for us it was a pressure cooker situation.
We could not turn a blind eye to the plight of this lady. We had to take a call and take it quickly. The woman was in labor and I hadn’t seen anything like that in my life. We offered our vehicle to the family to go to the govt. hospital. However, they were skeptical. They did not have Aadhar, the child birth wasn’t intimated to ASHA and of course they thought they had to pay at the hospital. They had no money at all.
Till the time the decision was reached the practitioner arrived. He did not have any medical equipment apart from some homeopathic drops. He did not even check the lady.
We called our driver back who had headed to have breakfast. However, there was a delay in the decision making as well. Her family members were still not sure about whether to take her to the hospital. We said that our vehicle will arrive and if you want you can take it for free. Further, it was your decision. That lady’s husband had panicked as well and he couldn’t even tell us his mobile number. Finally they asked us for the vehicle.
That pregnant lady crossed three to four fields on foot to reach the vehicle. She was in labor! She just had one lady accompanying her. Later with much delay her husband and then the mother in law joined.
And then it was a race against time. The PHC was 5kms away. But it felt like million light years away. We were shouting at vehicles to get out of the way throughout those 5 kms. The lady was yelling in pain. I guess she was saying I am dying. I was asking the driver to hurry up. Swati was honking! We had to make it to the hospital in time. There was no other option. Luckily, we made it in time to CHC, Sikandara.
They did not take her on the stretcher. She walked. Meanwhile, I rushed to the physician and told him a lady was in labor. He shouted at me “Agar labor pain nahi hoga to bacha kaise hoga, ajeeb aadmi hai budbak! Tumhein dard ho raha hai kya?”
At that time I did not know deliveries are done by ANM. However, since we were from the sanstha, we were entertained. The nurse/ ANM was cordial. She explained to us that the lady (let’s call her Devika) will be administered Antifortin. If there is pain relief she can go, else she will give birth.
Since it wasn’t available in the hospital we had to buy it. In the meantime Priyanka and Nilanshu arrived with masks and money. It was a relief to see them again! After they came, we went out to have some samosa. As we returned, Nilanshu said it was a false alarm, there was no delivery.
Then we were buying some cold drinks and snacks at the hospital gate. All of a sudden, Devika’s husband came and tapped me on the shoulder. He said ‘ho gaya’. I thought that the check-up was over. I still asked, ‘kya hua?’ He said, ‘ladki hua!’
Moments like these are rare in life, that moment was really special. It was not my child. I did not know the parents either. But I was overjoyed. It was surreal. I can’t put what I felt in words, because it was beyond words.
On reaching the hospital I saw a 2.435 kgs angel. Tiniest human being I have ever seen! She was all pink, with her tiny fingers and nano eyes. She is by far the most beautiful girl I have ever seen! This little angel reaffirmed my faith in my work.
Now I know I want to keep doing this for the rest of my life. Money can wait. Satisfaction is real. My little princess gave me a new lease of life for which I will be eternally grateful! I am indebted to that unknown, tiny, 2 day old!!!
(PS - I have not written this. I have stolen this write-up from my dear friend SaKa's diary! Couldn't resist to share the amazing work done by him and his team! Kudos & Cheers SaKa & Team)
