Tribal woman delivers boy on roadside with PHC staff help

Sources said that Shruti (19), wife of Karthi, a tribal resident of Kurumalai, atop the hills, near Sivanathapuram, developed labour pain as she was full-term pregnant. The lack of road has resulted in the Kurumalai, Nachumedu and Vellakalmalai tribal villages lacking medical facilities.

Though a road is now being laid – after repeated agitations by tribals – Shruti was brought by a dholi from the hill village to the PHC at Oosur village, but as the pain intensified, tribals informed the PHC from where medical and para-medical staff rushed to the spot and helped deliver a boy successfully on the road midway between the tribal villageand Oosur.

Both mother and child were then moved to the PHC for post-delivery treatment. Medical sources revealed that usually they request tribal women to come to the PHC two days in advance for deliveries to avoid complications at the last minute.