Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Seventy seven infants and four maternal deaths have occurred at District Hospital Anantnag in South Kashmir in first six months of 2015.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag in reply to the RTI filed by Malik Farooq, said that from January 1, 2015 to June 30 2015, there has been 77 infant deaths in the Hospital. Besides 77 infants, the Hospital has also witnessed four maternal deaths.
The cause of infant deaths cited by the Hospital mainly include Sev Sepsis, Encephalitis, Multiple Congintal Anomalies, Preterm with LBW, Artho-Gryposes Multiplex, Sev Hypothermia with GI Bleed and Sev BA with Cynoses while as the causes for maternal deaths are cited as Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) and Antepartum Haemorrhage (APH).
In District Hospital Anantnag there is very low intake capacity in the Mother Child Hospital (MCH) compared to the rush of patients not from only the district but from far-flung areas including Banihal and Ramban areas of Jammu province.
The MCH Medical Superintendent, Anantnag, Dr Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, told Excelsior that he is unaware about the deaths of infants as he joined in August. But the top medical officer admitted that the hospital lacks intake capacity compared to the rush of patients. He also said that the infrastructure of the hospital needs to be upgraded.
At present there are only 40 pediatric beds in the MCH Anantnag while 80 beds are for patients related with gynecology despite the fact that it has been declared as Divisional Level healthcare institute because patients from far-flung areas throng it. The MCH receives more than 30 delivery cases every day and 1000 deliveries performed every month. And there are only 14 post-operative beds available in the MCH.
There is not a single ventilator available at the MCH Anantnag and most deaths occur due to lack of the life support system. The MCH has only single theatre that is operating at present while there is dire need of another theatre in view of is heavy patient rush.
“We need additional beds because we have low intake capacity. Though the staff is manageable but yes there is need of infrastructure upgradation. Normally we refer patients because of lack of tertiary care and non-availability of blood groups,” the Medical Superintendent said. He urged the Government to provide more facilities to this vital Hospital of South Kashmir.
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