Bangalore, Sept 27, 2017:The Gollahalli Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Ramnagara Taluk, is not fulfilling maternity health care due to the absence of equipments and skilled doctors.
The facilities are not available for pregnant ladies and they do not get the required primary care properly during the first and second trimester of their pregnancy.
The guidelines of Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for Primary Health Centres state that PHCs, should deliver primary health care to the neighbouring community while maintaining the needful standards and norms.
There are two types of PHC’s, type A and type B, which should qualify and fulfil the criteria of Minimum Assured Services. From Service delivery angle, PHCs may be of two types, depending upon the delivery case load – Type A and Type B.
Type A should have delivery load of less than 20 deliveries a month where as Type B can handle more than 20. Pregnant women have to go to to the Community Health Centre or nearby hospitals which is 11.3kms away.. In cases of emergency and the unavailability of services, the expecting woman and her family faces difficulty reaching the hospital for delivery.
The Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY) launched in 2005, aims is to reduce the maternal mortality rate (MMR) especially for the poorer sections of the society. The scheme focuses on poor pregnant women belonging to states that have low institutional delivery rates in India.
National Health Mission (NHM) in a report stated that, states have been provided with resources to tighten the hold on their last-mile health service delivery along with improving health infrastructure by investing on training of health volunteers to address needs.
Lakshmamma, a localite from Gollahalli says, “For deliveries we have to go to the city which is approximately 7-8 Km and we have to go there as there are no facilities available here and the only doctor available leaves by 3.30 PM.”
Dr. Veena Vidya Sagar, a gynaecologist by profession, says, “It is the same case all over India. Government should help the residents’ of the area as well as the doctors working in rural areas. Proper infrastructure, paramedical facilities and equipments and the living facilities should be improved. Bangalore rural has issues connecting specialists in the network. It is a team work and no individual can do that alone.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) — popularly known as ‘I pledge for 9’ —during Mann Ki Baat on June 9 in 2016. It aims the private sector to provide free ante-natal services (ANC) every month to pregnant women, especially those living in poor and rural areas to provide free health check-ups to pregnant women at government PHC’s and hospitals.
The NFHS -4 reports states the fact that there are lesser number of ladies who can get the health care in Public Health Centre.
Nurse from the PHC said, “We do provide the help in emergency cases, but we don not give maternity facilites for the delivery.”
