The Delhi High Court has directed Delhi Government to ensure that the helpline number for assisting senior citizens in Delhi, shall also be made available for pregnant ladies.
“The helpline number shall be publicised adequately in the newspapers and the social media as also through the Delhi Police, wherever possible. UOI and GNCTD shall work in tandem to make sure that no barriers are faced by pregnant ladies and their family members residing in hot spots during the lockdown,” said the Delhi High Court.
A two judges bench of Delhi High Court presided by Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad was hearing a PIL filed by SAMA- Resource Group for Women and Health, organisation in Delhi, seeking direction for access of timely, proper and affordable pregnancy related healthcare services for women and new born amid lockdown due to outbreak of COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
Mr. Anupam Srivastava, counsel appearing for Delhi Government submitted before the court that the Directorate of Family Welfare that Govt. of NCT of Delhi has no objection if the helpline proposed to be set up for senior citizens in terms of an order passed by this Court in W.P. (C) No. 2979/2020 entitled Ajit Kumar v. Union of India & Anr., shall also be made available for pregnant women to enable them to access medical facilities and to arrange transportation for them to visit hospitals for check-ups, delivery and post-delivery consultation, whenever required. He stated that an Asha worker is assigned for every pregnant lady to assist her during the pregnancy and since ANMs are attached to the Health Centres in the GNCTD, wherever there is a need, the Asha worker contacts the ANMs directly for rendering necessary assistance to pregnant ladies.
Ms. Vrinda Grover objected to the said argument and submitted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, duties of most of the ANMs have been diverted to COVID related work and therefore, they are not readily available for assistance.
Delhi Government Counsel assured the Court that sufficient number of Asha workers and ANMs, will be made available in their respective areas so that they can reach out to the pregnant ladies and particularly those who are in the high risk category for a follow up. Further, adequate assistance will be provided to pregnant women, particularly, in the last trimester. He stated that this will include arranging transportation for the pregnant ladies to visit to the hospital predelivery, for delivery and post delivery.
Mr. Gogna, Counsel for the Centre assured the Court that necessary compliances shall be made and the coordination between the Asha workers and ANMs shall be seamless.
Courts direction came on a plea filed by Ms Vrinda Grover who submitted that despite the guidelines issued by the Government to provide every necessary facility during lockdown but the ground reality is different. She submitted that the present petition has been filed so as to ensure that there should be proper coordination between the concerned departments of the Centre and Delhi Government so that a Nodal Officer is appointed in every COVID-19 hotspot, whose contact number is made public and a dedicated helpline is set up for pregnant women seeking essential health services, which includes arranging transportation to and from the hospital, securing movement passes, etc.
–India Legal Bureau