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Hospital ordered to give explanation after mother, baby die during childbirth
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A woman who had entered labor was told to go from one health facility to another in North Sumatra. She died before reaching the third facility. (shutterstock.com/-)
T
he Dairi regency administration in North Sumatra has ordered Sidikalang General Hospital to give a public explanation regarding the death of a mother and baby who died during childbirth on Sunday night, allegedly because there was no doctor at the hospital at the time.
Dairi regency secretary, Sebatianus Tinambunan, said the administration had summoned the hospital’s management team to give an explanation about the incident.
He said the hospital explained that the mother, Ramaya Sidauruk, 38, was already in a poor condition when she arrived at the hospital. The hospital referred her to Kabanjahe Hospital in neighboring Karo regency. However, she died before being transferred.
“That’s what the hospital told us. We asked them to give a public explanation, especially for the victims’ family” Sebastianus told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Kordes Sihombing, a friend of the victims’ family, said Ramaya and her husband, Tulus Sihombing, traveled to the nearest community health center (Puskesmas) after Ramaya went into labor. The Puskesmas told them to go to Sidikalang General Hospital.
“When they arrived at Sidikalang, Ramaya could still walk. The nurses gave her IV therapy. An hour later, Ramaya began to have contractions but there was no doctor in the room,” said Kordes. Ramaya then started bleeding, but still there was no doctor, Kordes said.
The family said the nurses told Tulus to take Ramaya to Kabanjahe Hospital, located two hours from Sidikalang. There were reportedly no ambulances available to transport Ramaya, so Tulus had to find a rental car.
“When her husband went to find a rental car, Ramaya died,” said Kordes. (evi)
