Maternal deaths on the rise in Almora district

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, December 5

The number of maternal deaths in Almora district is on the rise as despite special provisions in the National Health Mission to protect mothers and children post-delivery, poor condition of equipment and shortage of doctors have affected the functioning of hospitals in the district.

According to Health Department sources in Almora, over 34 women have died during or post-delivery in the hospitals in the district in the last six years. “The post-delivery deaths, mostly in rural hospitals, occurred due to shock, severe anaemia, jaundice, high bold pressure and bleeding after delivery,” said Deepak Bhatt, manager, National Health Mission programmes in Almora district.

They said of the 38 posts of woman doctor in Almora district, there were only six permanent doctors, 16 contractual doctors while 16 posts were vacant. “Besides vacant posts of woman doctor, posts of paediatrician and anaesthetist in Almora hospitals are also lying vacant for long,” said the sources.

Due to a shortage of doctors and facilities, 11 women had died in the district during 2011-12 while 11, 6, and six women had died during or post-delivery during 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15. “While some women died during and after delivery, some of them lost their lives on way to hospital or in a village hospital where they did not get primary health care,” said Bhatt.

The department attributes these deaths to the negligent attitude of village women towards pregnancy and lack to medical care during pregnancy. “Even due to conventional thinking some women avoid going to hospitals for delivery, leading to death,” said KC Bhatt, CMO, Almora.