20 weeks expecting mother dies in Assam due to pregnancy termination by a quack

The expecting mother was pregnant (20 weeks) with an unplanned 3rd child. The information of the 3rd pregnancy was kept a secret from the nearby people of the area and the society. In this regard, a local quack performed the pregnancy termination on the mother, in an unhygienic and unsafe environment. It came to light that some herbal medicines were inserted into her genitalia on 10 August. After 2 days i.e. 12 August, 2022, the mother expelled a foetus at home, however, the placenta remained inside the womb.

Subsequently, her health deteriorated and she was rushed to a medical college. After going through a lot of pain and agony, the mother of 2 children passed away on 13 August, though the doctors and the health staff of the medical college tried all the medical interventions that they could.

Since NHM, Assam has been relentlessly striving towards zero maternal and child death, the matter was taken up very seriously by NHM authorities and the District Health Society. In this regard an FIR was lodged against the accused quack and the person has since been arrested by the police.

“It is our humble appeal to the public that in case, any of you come across such incidents, then to inform the authorities immediately. It is always advisable to visit your nearest hospital for any health needs rather than indulging these local quacks. Every life is precious, as they also have their loved ones who need them; and any such incidents, as above, will not be tolerated at any cost. We condole the untimely death of the deceased mother and pray for their family in their bereavement,” stated National Health Mission (NHM), Assam.