Meghalaya Health Minister Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh on Monday refuted allegations of negligence against Nongpoh Civil Hospital following the tragic death of a newborn, delivered in the hospital’s toilet on Saturday evening.
Addressing the media, Dr. Lyngdoh clarified that the case involved a spontaneous abortion, as the mother was less than five months pregnant. “The lady was under five months pregnant, and it was a case of spontaneous abortion,” she explained.
Dr. Lyngdoh added, “The first thing I did was to institute a senior officer at the rank of Joint Director to immediately gather information and brief me about this lady who had a child in the toilet.”
She further emphasized the difficulty in saving the fetus, stating, “The fetus was under five weeks old, and since the mother was only five months pregnant, it was impossible to save the child.”
Though the formal report is still pending, the Health Minister assured the public that the government is committed to improving the healthcare system. “While the formal report has not yet reached my desk, I am sharing this preliminary information. We remain committed to enhancing healthcare services.”
The Minister also confirmed that a senior health official has already investigated the matter. “The Joint Director of DHS visited Nongpoh yesterday and gathered all the relevant information. The Medical Superintendent of the hospital will provide a formal response to the allegations in the coming days,” she stated.
The mother, Monalisa Langi, a resident of Umden Diwon, had initially been taken to Umden Primary Health Centre (PHC) after experiencing labor pains. She was later referred to Nongpoh Civil Hospital late on the night of September 20. Upon arrival, she was admitted at around 3 AM on September 21 and was provided medical care.