The ‘108’ emergency ambulance service is playing a key role in safe deliveries by shifting the pregnant women to hospitals at the earliest. Statistics indicate that it has helped in good number of deliveries.
In October this year, it had handled 512 pregnancy related emergencies while the number was 480 in September.
“Expectant mothers who need to be shifted to the Government Rajaji Hospital here are handled in time and our team coordinates with respective Primary Health Centres,” says SGS. Lakshmanan, Regional Manager (Operations), GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute.
Based on delivery due date, the ‘108’ service gets in touch with the PHCs and pregnant women so that at the onset of labour pain they can be shifted to hospital. The pregnancy emergency calls attended by ‘108’ from May this year were: May (514), June (395), July (426), August (413), September (480) and October (512).
Mr. Lakshmanan says that safe transport is important for pregnant women and they should avoid travelling by autorickshaws during this time. After the delivery too, this ambulance service continues its care because it has to deal with post-pregnancy complications. Some babies need to be shifted urgently to the Institute of Child Health at the GRH particularly in case of respiratory problems. There is a well-equipped neonatal ambulance positioned at Valayankulam PHC since maternal emergencies are being reported from that area.
