In a terrible incident in Karakkamandapam, Thiruvananthapuram, Shameera Beevi, 36, and her newborn child died while attempting a home delivery with acupuncture therapy. The woman's husband, Nayaz, a sound system worker from Poonthura, has been arrested by Nemom police on allegations of culpable homicide not amounting to murder (IPC Section 304) and miscarriage without a woman's permission (IPC Section 313). The Union Health Ministry has launched a detailed investigation into the case.
This was Shemeera's fourth delivery, and she had never seen a doctor during her nine-month pregnancy. Instead, the couple consulted an acupuncturist, who came to their leased residence. The decision to eschew conventional medical care led to issues during Tuesday's delivery.
As difficulties increased, Shemeera was eventually transported to a private hospital, where she and the infant were confirmed dead upon arrival. Following the terrible incident, local officials, including the Ward Councillor, ASHA workers, and neighbors, accused Nayaz of blocking his wife from receiving necessary medical care.
Ward Councillor Deepika said that Nayaz refused ASHA workers entering their home and rejected any attempts to talk with Shemeera. When they were able to speak with her, they discovered that all previous deliveries had been C-sections, with the most recent taking place only a year earlier. Shemeera, afraid to communicate openly, emphasized her husband's wish for a regular delivery and his disdain for the state's medical system.
Deepika also claimed that Nayaz stated that they were planning a normal birth after learning about it on YouTube. An elderly neighbor accused Nayaz of denying Shemeera treatment, claiming that she was not permitted to speak with them, never left the house alone, and that Nayaz rejected their concerns about her health.
Responding to the circumstance, the police filed a case of unnatural death and arrested Nayaz. The ongoing interrogation will determine the next steps depending on the information gathered.
The tragic occurrence emphasizes the risks of foregoing competent medical treatment during pregnancy and delivery. Despite health officials' advice for Shemeera to seek hospital care, Nayaz declined, expressing distrust in mainstream healthcare methods and even criticizing the idea of caesarean sections. Rumours say Nayaz is linked to a bogus acupuncture doctor in Tirur, raising concerns about the unfair influence of unprofessional practitioners in the area.
This terrible episode adds to a long list of similar incidents in Kerala, where home births by unqualified practitioners have resulted in mother and baby mortality. Residents blame the rising number of such incidents on the influence of fraudulent practitioners and criticize the government for failing to take additional precautions to safeguard the safety of pregnant women.
As investigations continue, the community deals with the death of Shemeera Beevi and her newborn, highlighting the critical need for awareness and intervention to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
