A deeply disturbing incident in Maharashtra has brought to light the shocking state of healthcare in rural areas. A couple was forced to carry their two dead sons, aged six and three-and-a-half years, for 15 kilometers on foot after being denied an ambulance by a local hospital. Videos of the heartbreaking ordeal have gone viral on social media, sparking outrage and raising serious concerns about the lack of basic healthcare services in the region.
The incident was highlighted in the state Assembly by Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar. He recounted that the siblings had fallen ill in their village of Pattigaon in Aheri taluka on September 4th. Their parents, desperate for help, took them to the Jamilgatta primary health centre by foot. Sadly, the children were declared dead on arrival.
Instead of providing support and assistance, the hospital staff reportedly refused to provide an ambulance to transport the bodies back to the village. The distraught parents were left with no option but to carry their deceased sons on their shoulders, navigating the difficult terrain for 15 kilometers.
Following the public outcry, health officials have registered a medico-legal case and sent the bodies for post-mortem. The incident comes just days after another tragic event in the Vidarbha region where a pregnant tribal woman delivered a stillborn child and succumbed to her own injuries due to the lack of timely medical care.
The series of incidents highlights the critical need for improvement in rural healthcare infrastructure and access to emergency services. The lack of ambulances and basic medical facilities in remote areas has resulted in devastating consequences for families, leaving them to navigate unimaginable hardships during times of crisis. These heartbreaking stories demand urgent attention and action from authorities to ensure that every citizen has access to adequate healthcare, regardless of their location.
