Team Herald
PERNEM: It has been years now that pregnant women from Pernem Taluka who visit the Tuem Community Health Centre are routinely referred to North District Hospital at Mapusa in case of C-section delivery.
Many a time, even normal deliveries and check-ups are referred to Mapusa hospital, as the Tuem centre has no full-time gynaecologist. This was the case for many years.
Recently, a full-time gynaecologist was posted to the Tuem centre. However, in time of emergency and when C-section delivery is required, the patients are referred to the Mapusa Hospital.
Sources say that though the centre conducts normal deliveries, it lacks facility to perform surgeries. According to the same source, the Tuem centre has no full-time paediatrician and anaesthetist and this is the main reason that C-section deliveries are not conducted there. A paediatrician visits the Tuem centre only twice a week.
It is learnt that after delivery at Mapusa hospital, the patients sent back to Tuem centre.
“Travelling between Pernem and Mapusa, during pregnancy, is not feasible for everyone. Not everyone can afford to travel every day to Mapusa and back. If the government provides this facility here, then, it will solve many problems,” a local claimed.
Health Officer of Tuem Health Centre Dr Vidya Naik said, “I have written to the authorities concerned asking for full time paediatrician and anaesthetist. We cannot take the risk of performing surgery in the absence of these experts. Even during normal deliveries they are supposed to be present.”
