Risking own life, nurse performs delivery at GMCH
15 Sep 2020 02:39:30
Sujata Moon
Principal Correspondent :
In this COVID-19 pandemic, who are the most vulnerable? Those who are living with comorbidity, those above 60 years of age, above all those working as frontline healthworkers. They have to be well-equipped, use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while moving in Covid wards. Can one imagine any frontline healthworker commuting without PPE even near the Covid ward? Ask any medico and he or she would say, it is risky. But what if a patient needs to be attended on urgent basis and the healthworker doesn’t have PPE! Would the healthworker take a risk or leave the patient to its fate.
Sujata Moon, the frontline healthworker, a nurse at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), chose the first option, conducted delivery and a baby girl was born. In this situation when everybody is working or not working but carrying fear of this dreaded virus, this nurse Sujata Moon embraced humanity and gave lease of life to two - mother and the new-born daughter. Sujata Moon, who did her MSc in Nursing with Psychiatry specialisation is working with Hospital Infection Control Department at GMCH for the last six months in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. This department mainly deals with the Hospital waste disposals. Dr Sajal Mitra, Dean has specially floated this department with a view to have proper management of waste disposal.
This was done in view of Covid-19 pandemic. In that context, Sujata Moon has to visit various parts of the hospital to see the hospital waste disposal. As a part of her duty the other day, she reached Trauma Centre which is functioning as Covid Hospital. There are several wards where Covid-19 patients are treated either in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or High Dependency Unit (HDU) as per their conditions. Sujata Moon went to the second floor near HDU-5 where Coronavirus positive women are treated. A pregnant woman in her twenties was being brought out of ward on striature. Sujata Moon was talking on phone. The attendants were about to take her downstairs and were waiting for lift.
Suddenly, the woman out of severe labour pain started shouting. Sujata Moon stopped her telephonic conversation and tried to call doctors inside the ward but nobody could hear her voice as anybody inside is not able to hear the outside sound. Wearing PPE and then performing the delivery is time consuming and that might have created complications for the pregnant woman. Sujata Moon used her conscience and prudence, took a risk as she realised the woman with her primigravida had reached a point of delivery. Sujata moved forward and performed the delivery, a beautiful baby girl took birth.
This nurse resuscitated the baby, the sound of cry of that pure little soul in that corridor created positive vibes. “When the baby cried, the mother’s eyes were full of tears out of immense happiness. I think, it was my reward. I shall preserve that moment forever. I felt probably God had sent me there on that afternoon with a purpose. I am grateful to the Almighty. I was on my regular round when I came across this situation. I wasn’t wearing PPE. I had a choice to make when I saw that the baby had started coming out. I decided to take the risk to save the mother and the baby.
I have dedicated my life to serving the mankind and I will continue to do so!,” said Sujata Moon. She expressed her gratitude towards Dean Dr Sajal Mitra. Patting on her back Dean Dr Sajal Mitra immediately sent Sujata a message, “I congratulate and appreciate your spontaneous gesture, whereby you conducted a delivery, safely in unusual situation thereby, proving that GMCH has the character and will to stand tall in this difficult situation. You really made me feel proud. I hope you had enough protective gears on. Please see to it that you wear mask, shield, gloves and a gown whenever, you visit covid hospital. God bless you.”