GMC B’la to launch maternal and child hospital facility

Baramulla, July 10: To streamline maternity services, the newly established Govt. Medical College in Baramulla district will set up a state-of-the-art maternal and child care hospital which is expected to bring relief to patients across north Kashmir, officials said on Monday.
Principal Govt. Medical College Baramulla, Dr Ruby Reshi said the 200 bedded maternal and child hospital (MCH) would be established in addition to the existing 300 bedded hospital of the new medical college.
“The new 200 bedded facility will be the maternal and child wing of the District Hospital Baramulla, the main associated hospital of the GMC Baramulla,” she said.
The new facility is already being constructed by the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited as part of the medical college’s extension.
“This hospital will help people of entire north Kashmir. The maternity and child care space where we currently work is a small ward and the labour room remains very congested as we get patients from entire north Kashmir,” principal said.
The new maternity and childcare wing will have state-of-the-art theatres, separate wards, operation theatres, labour room and people will get all facilities at their doorsteps.
Once completed, the principal said the MCH will bring relief to northern Kashmir spread over three districts Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara.
“It will be a relief for the high risk pregnancies that are referred from Uri, Kupwara, Handwara, Bandipora, Sopore, Tangmarg, Baramulla and patients will get the best facilities and services,” she said.
Dr Ruby said the move will also help to decrease the referral on Kashmir’s only maternity hospital like Lal Ded Hospital. The travel from north Kashmir to Srinagar is tiresome for pregnant women as ambulances remain stuck in traffic jams.
“Over the years, as per our records the referrals in gynaecology ward to Srinagar has decreased while referral in from different areas of Baramulla has increased,” she said.
Zahida Bano, pregnant women from Baramulla said there are many areas in north Kashmir where even reaching to Baramulla hospital is difficult and pregnant women suffer.
“Now when the hospital is coming it will definitely provide relief for the patients and at least they would not be referred to Srinagar for delivery. There are also patients who can’t bear the travel expenses. The new facility should be started immediately,” she said.