Birth by candle light in Manipur health centre

In this age of technology and medical marvels, a remote village in Manipur along the international border with Myanmar that is yet to get electricity connection saw a baby being born in the light of candles and torchlights.

The baby was born on Wednesday evening at a public health centre in the remote border village of Kwatha. This was the first birth in the hospital.

However, the birth took place without any electricity, and in the light of candles and torchlights since there is no power connection in the village.

Commending the hospital staff for their service, medical officer L. Nandakumar said: "When the expectant mother was admitted for normal delivery, we were apprehensive since there is no power or water in the hospital. We had to send a peon to buy candles and batteries for the torchlights. We are happy that there was no complication."

Asked what were the requirements of the hospital, Nandakumar said: "There should be power, running water, besides enough medicines, including life-saving ones."

State health director Okram Ibomcha said he was happy that doctors and paramedics were pro-active in the remote border village.

He said he has been trying to provide all-round medical services to the people of rural and hill areas, and that he has been personally supervising posting of the medical staff to remote areas.