Six more UPHCs to offer maternity services soon in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: The city corporation is all set to equip all the urban primary health centres with birthing facilities. A city health official said the objective was to increase the number of childbirths in the primary health centres.
There are 34 urban primary health centres in the city. Of them, 28 centres come with birthing facilities. City health officer Dr Pradeep V Krishnakumar said they were taking steps to introduce the same in the remaining six centres.
“They now lack facilities like labour rooms. Corporation commissioner M Pratap has given the nod to equip the centres with the same to help pregnant women avoid long travel to reach a health facility for childbirth,” the officer said.
He said the number of childbirths in the corporation-run health facilities were on the rise. “The number of childbirths has doubled in the recent months, compared to the same period last year when only less than 50 childbirths were handled by the centres in a month.”
According to another health official, the number of childbirths in the urban primary health centres in the city touched its peak of 90 in June. In July, the number, however, dropped to 78. “Once the remaining centres are equipped with birthing facilities, we hope to handle 1,200 childbirths a year.”
Another source said the health centres at Pattunool (Sukrawarpet), Thudiyalur, Ram Nagar (CTM Home), Town Hall (VVM Home), Rathinapuri, Pothanur, Ramanathapuram, Gandhi Park (RK Bhai), Saibaba Colony (Meenakshi Maternity Home) and on Raja Street were performing well in childbirth front.
Health workers from each primary health centre are working to ensure institutional childbirth for the pregnant woman in their jurisdiction, said another health official.
“A few people have attempted childbirth at home without medical supervision. They depended on social media for the same. Steps are being taken to put an end to the practice,” he added.