Maternity homes lack trained staff
KARACHI- Poor sanitary conditions, lack of equipment and untrained staff at majority of maternity homes are posing great threat to human lives.
This was disclosed in a report prepared by the Karachi Child and Women Health Committee of city government.
The report is based on a survey of different maternity homes, including PIB Maternity Home, Gulshan Town; Manghopir Maternity Home, Old Golimar; Lyari Maternity Home; Liaquatabad Maternity Home; Korangi Maternity Home; MCH Centre Nazimabad; MCH Centre Muslimabad, Jamshed Town; and Mahmoodabad Maternity Home.
The report further discloses that there is no child specialist in most of the maternity homes. Over 90 per cent of senior and junior LHVs told that they were not given any training. A little bit training imparted in this connection was without any proper neonatologist, it adds.
Regarding availability of oxygen cylinders, it states that majority of the maternity homes lack proper oxygen provision equipment and recommends that proper steps be taken to reverse this situation.
“There is no arrangement for sterilization in labour rooms of majority of maternity homes, which is resulting in spread of diseases like hepatitis B, C and AIDS among women visiting these facilities,” the report states adding that there is no “Baby Resuscitation” for labour room staff.
“Suction machines in these homes are not in proper working conditions having no alternate manual arrangement in case of electricity breakdown,” it adds. On sanitary conditions in labour rooms, the report says that leaking sewerage lines and poor sanitary conditions are posing danger of infection from sewerage water.
Due to lack of proper health facilities in public sector health care units, private hospitals, maternity homes and dispensaries in the city are doing thriving business, it adds.
The report suggests several steps to improve conditions in maternity homes of city government. Suction pumps, generators, and other equipment besides appointment of child specialist in these maternity homes with proper training of staff by the MCPS and the FCPS were a few recommendations made in the report.
Source: Dawn
Date:7/24/2004
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