Absolute mayhem at maternity hospital (Saturday, 15 December 2007) - Contributed by Sumiya Aman - Last Updated ()
Hyderabad, December 15: It was absolute mayhem at Government Maternity Hospital, Nayapul. Window panes were shattered, furniture was broken and beds were trampled upon.
Even the labour rooms, operation theatres and recuperation wards were not spared from by the mob. Fear gripped pregnant women, as they scurried for cover and safety.
The attack of the mob, alleged to be the handiwork of the followers of MIM legislator from Charminar Ahmed Pasha Quadri, was of such intensity that patients along with their attendants had to vacate the recovering rooms. The hospital doctors were shell-shocked. Normal work and emergency services came to a grinding halt. The premises sported a desolate look by night.
The hospital premises reverberated with protests and angry arguments between relatives, MIM followers, police and the junior doctors. At one corner, Mr. Quadri, along with followers and relatives of the deceased Zakira Begum, stood firm on their demand for justice. At another corner, the injured house surgeon, along with junior doctors, raised slogans against the attack on the hospital. With emotions running high, the doctors left their normal duties and closeted themselves in closed door meetings.
No admissions
Pregnant women were not given admissions, as they were asked to approach other hospitals. “We don’t want to talk to the Minister. We want the doctor to see my wife. Please, it’s an emergency. She is in advanced stage of pregnancy,― Damodar, a resident of Alijah Kotla, pleaded in vain.
Director of Medical Education A.Y. Chari and other top health officials had a tough time convincing senior doctors of the hospital to report back to their duties. “We will try to manage the situation by asking all the senior doctors to report to their duties immediately,― Dr. Chari said.
Stung by the attack, the junior doctors decided to block the road in front of the hospital. “We want somebody from the government to take moral responsibility for the attack,― said APJUDA (Osmania unit) president K. Rajasekhar.
Minister for Medical Education Galla Aruna Kumari tried to hold talks with the protesting medicos. In a dramatic move, the medicos closed their ears and mouth with hands, symbolising they were not willing to have any talks with the State government. With traffic at both the ends of the road coming to a standstill, the police arrested over 100 medicos.
