A woman injured in a road accident in Labasa on Monday is expressing concerns about the medical care she received. Aruna Devi, 55, was traveling with her granddaughter in a bus operated by a shipping company when it collided with a sugarcane truck in Seaqaqa, Macuata. She claims that the medical response after the accident was insufficient.
Ms. Devi, a mother of four, was among five passengers who sustained injuries in the incident. She feels that she and the other injured individuals should have received urgent medical attention to address their bleeding and pain from the crash.
She reported, “The nurse at the Seaqaqa Health Centre told us to wait for the doctor to arrive before we could be treated.” Ms. Devi stated that while waiting at the health center, she experienced severe pain, with blood dripping from her mouth, and had to endure at least an hour before receiving any care.
Later, she was transferred to the Nasea Health Centre for further treatment. While there, she was told to obtain a ticket and wait in line before being checked, a process she found frustrating given her condition.
Ms. Devi believes that common sense should have led the nurses to prioritize their treatment in the emergency department. Realizing the delay, she chose to hire a taxi and went to Labasa Divisional Hospital, where she received treatment to clean and stitch her injuries.
Attempts to reach Divisional Medical Officer Northern, Dr. Tiko Saumalua, for a response were unsuccessful.
As for the shipping company involved, Ms. Devi reiterated that she does not blame the driver, asserting it was not his fault. Despite her experience, she had planned to fly to Suva after the incident. “I am still shivering from the accident and will not be traveling by ferry anytime soon; I will prefer flights,” she added.
The Divisional Police Commander North, Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, confirmed that a report of the accident had been received on Monday.