Shillong, Oct 5: Days after a child from Domkyrkoh died while being carried for 90 minutes to the nearest health centre, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Monday distanced his department from the death.
Calling it “unfortunate” and loss of a “precious life”, Shylla said the issue was connectivity, not health services.
“The issue here is with the connectivity, it’s not with the services, because she has not reached,” the minister said.
In a questionable claim, Shylla said the family had not informed “anyone from the health department, not even ASHA” and the department was “totally unaware” — effectively shifting responsibility to the bereaved family for not triggering the health system.
The minister admitted connectivity remains an issue not only in Domkyrkoh but several remote areas, but said the government has “already covered most areas” and “everything cannot be done at one go.
“While the Mawkhiat Sub-Centre is located 1.5 hours walk away,” Shylla maintained it was not a service failure.
As a fix, he cited a proposal for four-wheel-drive ambulances, admitting patients in rural areas are still carried in “wooden structures” due to bad roads.
On setting up facilities closer to villages, he said a study is being done and “it will take some time.”
The child, Habankyrshan Marbaniang died in his mother’s arms while being carried on foot to Mawdet for medical help after falling ill.
According to villagers, parents called vehicles throughout the night but drivers refused to come to Domkyrkoh citing extremely bad roads. They were told to bring the child to Mawdet.
With no option, the family started on foot the next morning. However, the child died midway. He was buried on October 3. Viral videos of the episode have sparked outrage.
