Shillong, Dec 3: The Assembly’s Committee on Women Empowerment has asked the state health department to submit a status report on the functioning of maternity wards in the civil hospitals and community health centres (CHCs) while expressing concern over the increase of home birth rates in the state.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with officials of the department on Monday, Committee’s Chairperson Ampareen Lyngdoh said, “We have asked the health department to do a quick review on the number of maternity wards in the civil hospitals and CHCs across the state and submit a status of each of these health centres.â€
Stating that the department was also alerted that there are still 48.6 per cent of delivery cases being done in the homes and not in the institutions, Lyngdoh termed as “very alarming†to have such a figure in the 21st century.
Lyngdoh while asserting the need to empower the midwives said it has been observed that most of the midwives do not have adequate kit and wherewithal to ensure that delivery cases in the homes are safe and do not create health complications to mothers.
“What is even alarming is the fact that most of the cases of home delivery leave several complications for the children because the pre-natal care across the state is a serious concern and we as a committee have taken a serious note on the matter,†she added.
Supplementing to this, CWE member and Mawsynram MLA, Himalaya Shangpliang said this could be the reason why the Maternity Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) are so high in the state.
He cited that there have been 16 deaths in the Pynursla CHC alone just in the past eight months and said the department has to address and ensure the MMR and IMR is reduced in the state.
On the other hand, Lyngdoh, who is also MLA from East Shillong, said that the committee is also taking cognizance on the Ashas not being paid regularly.
The Committee would also conduct an inspection at Ganesh Das Government Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Lawmali here to enquire as to why its new building is yet to be taken up despite sanction was made in 2012.
Besides, the committee has also asked the department to conduct an audit of the CHCs and PHCs in view of the complaints that doctors, nurses and staff are not regular in attending to their duties.
Lyngdoh further informed that the Committee would organize a special Christmas programme by visiting four health centres which include Ganesh Das hospital, Jowai civil hospital, Resubelpara CHC and Songsak PHC on December 13 and 14.
“It is a special visit where we will be giving gifts to mothers at the maternity wards in these institutions with the objective to spread awareness among the people that the Assembly has an active committee on women empowerment,†the Congress MLA who represents East Shillong constituency said.
