Maternity hospital in Mysuru city records surge in patients following Nanjangud cluster case

MYSURU: Doctors, nurses and ward staff at Cheluvamba Hospital in Mysuru city are lucky if they get a few minutes to take a leisurely breath these days when they are on duty at what is the largest government-run maternity facility in South Karnataka. The lockdown has pushed the number of patients being admitted to the hospital steeply, and consequently, the number of infants being delivered by the staff has gone up sharply – sources at Cheluvamba Hospital said that the staff was overseeing three deliveries in two hours!
The surge in the number of patients at the Cheluvamba Hospital can be attributed to people from differents parts of region including Nanjangud, the epicentre of India’s first Covid-19 ‘cluster case’ thronging the facility. On average, nearly 37 deliveries are being performed daily.
Given the prevalence of the Covid-19 threat, all procedures are being performed in a highly secure and safe environment, with all healthcare personnel garbed in protective gear. On the other hand, all expecting mothers are being tested for novel coronavirus, and fortunately, the hospital is yet to report a positive case.
Cheluvamba Hospital medical superintendent Dr Pramila admitted to the staff being intimidated by the sudden increase in workload when patients from all parts of the region including Nanjangud started pouring in to their facility. “However, we counselled all members of the staff, including the security guards, the first point-of-contact for the patients and attendants. They were initially hesitant to handle patients from Nanjangud, but they are now receiving and attending to them without fear,” Dr Pramila told TOI.
She said that the number of deliveries at Cheluvamba Hospital had risen from 25 a day before the lockdown was enforced to 37, on average, every day following the imposition of restrictions. “Cheluvamba Hospital has been identified as a potential facility where expectant mothers who are Covid-19 positive can be provided treatment,” Dr Pramila said.