For tourists, Valparai is a remote destination. But for residents of the hill station, it is often a nightmare when it comes to the transport of patients to hospital, especially one with better medical facilities. Despite the presence of estate hospitals and Government Hospital, Valparai still lacks proper facilities for antenatal care and delivery.
In a move to ensure early antenatal care and timely referral of pregnant women, Health Department has sought direction from the higher ups in Chennai for the appointment of a gynaecologist at Valparai GH.
“We have sought appointment of a gynaecologist at Valparai GH which can put an end to pregnant women being taken to Pollachi GH due to delivery-related complications. The gynaecologist can ensure timely check of antenatal mothers and refer them to either Pollachi GH or Coimbatore Medical College Hospital in advance to avoid last-minute complications,” said M. Chandhirasekaran, Joint Director of Medical and Rural Health Services.
It takes more than two hours to reach Pollachi GH. Also, emergency shifting to Pollachi or Coimbatore through 40 hairpin bends of Valparai ghat pass will complicate the condition of the women. It takes more than three-and-a-half hours of journey to reach CMCH.
“We have observed that pregnant women are often brought to Valparai GH in the last hours of labour. There is lack of awareness among people, mostly estate workers, about antenatal check-ups and getting admitted at hospital in advance. Posting of a gynaecologist can be a solution for all these issues,” said Dr. Chandhirasekaran, adding that a favourable direction is expected from Chennai at the earliest.
Though Valaparai GH was upgraded with several new facilities, including operation theatre, doctors are reportedly hesitant to work at the hill station. There have been several instances of women and newborns saved from complications at the time of delivery after being rushed to Pollachi GH or CMCH.
In June this year, a woman and her newborn child died due to post-delivery complications while being shifted to CMCH after initial treatments at Valaparai GH and Pollachi GH.
