Infrastructure gaps hinder emergency medical access for pregnant women in India

In separate incidents in India, poor infrastructure and inadequate road conditions have hindered emergency medical access for pregnant women in rural areas.

In Agra, a woman in severe labor was ferried across the Utangan River on a cot supported by a tube because an ambulance could not reach her village due to the lack of a bridge or culvert. Villagers reported that they have been demanding a bridge for years and had recently staged a 10-day protest, but construction has not yet begun. The woman and her newborn son were eventually taken to a hospital and are reported to be safe.

In the Koraput district of Odisha, a 27-year-old woman in Nandapur block had to be carried on a stretcher for 3 km to reach an ambulance. The vehicle was unable to reach Srigamput village due to poor road conditions. Ambulance staff, including a driver and pharmacist, walked to the village to assist. The woman was successfully transported to the Nandapur Community Health Centre, where she delivered a healthy baby boy.