Tamil Nadu - Dindigul   

24-hour obstetric services

By Our Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL, SEPT. 10. The Collector, S. Murugaia, today said government hospitals in Palani and Dindigul had been identified for providing round-the-clock comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) to pregnant women.

Inaugurating a workshop for obstetricians in government hospitals in the district held here, the Collector said the hospitals would be equipped with qualified manpower and equipment to provide 24-hour uninterrupted services. Medical and paramedical personnel attached to these hospitals would be fully accountable for providing quality services. All CEmONC centres would provide services for both obstetric and paediatric casualty cases. An obstetrician and a paediatrician would be on stay-in duty all day and an anaesthetist would be on call duty. Staff nurses would be trained in newborn resuscitation practices, blood bank operations, operation theatre work and to help in the labour ward.

The Collector said 75 per cent of maternal deaths took place during natal and post-natal periods, 25 per cent occurred during the antenatal period and about one fifth of deaths while searching for a health facility in an emergency. In 2002, for every 1000 live births in the State, there were 44 infant deaths.

The Joint Director of Health Services, J. Amala Devi, said treatment protocols, adapted from the World Health Organisation guidelines, on managing complications in pregnancy and childbirth, would be taught to obstetricians, staff nurses and maternity assistants. Skilled birth attendants were required to recognise problems early and initiate treatment as most maternal deaths were caused owing to complications such as bleeding, blood pressure, infection and prolonged labour during pregnancy and childbirth.

Training was imparted to 20 obstetricians and paediatricians in 12 hospitals and 30 birth companions for secondary and tertiary hospitals in the session.

Last year 34,746 deliveries took place in the district and 10 to 15 per cent of childbirths took place at home. Doctors, who were given training, would train other doctors in their respective hospitals.

The Deputy Director of Health Services, S. Chandralekha, the Hospital Superintendent, M. Raju, participated.

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