DHANGHADI: A woman in labour has lost her child after failing to give birth, in absence of doctor at District Hospital, Bajhang.

19-year-old Sunita Joshi of Khaptadchhanna Rural Municipality-3 in Bajhang was referred to District Hospital by Chhanna Health Centre after she suffered from labour pain. Joshi had reached the hospital on Friday, however, due to lack of doctors, could not give birth in time leading to the death of her child.

Although the hospital has posts occupied by four doctors, three of them are on leave and Head Doctor Anup Regmi has been running administrative affairs leaving the patients unattended.

“I called for an ambulance to go to Dadeldhura after the employees informed me about the absence of doctors,” Sunita said with teary eyes, “The ambulance was in a state disrepair and I was bound to stay at the district hospital.”

According to Joshi, she could not afford jeep service as she had no money with her, which forced her to stay at district hospital. “I do not know what happened. I was told by the same hospital during pregnancy that my baby was safe but then I heard them saying that I was going to have a breech delivery,” Joshi said, “they pulled out my baby too late.”

According to Doctor Regmi, Sunita Joshi had married early and her uterus did not open. Moreover, the baby could not be saved as it was in a breech position inside the womb and the doctors are not to be blamed in the child’s death.