Assam rural hospitals unfit for pregnant women

Understaffed and ill-equipped rural hospitals in Assam amplify the sufferings of pregnant women. A report by the Assembly Committee on Welfare of Women and Children tabled in the House revealed this.

Understaffed and ill-equipped rural hospitals in Assam amplify the sufferings of pregnant women. A report by the Assembly Committee on Welfare of Women and Children tabled in the House revealed this.

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"Due to lack of adequate doctors, nurses and supporting staff in public health centres, community health centres and civil hospitals, all patients particularly pregnant women suffer a lot at the time of admission," panel chairperson and legislator Jonjonali Baruah noted in the report.

The House panel's survey also found that doctors were reluctant to be posted in villages, leading to crisis in the rural health centres. It asked Health and Family Welfare Department officials to visit such centres frequently to right the wrongs.

The panel found fault with women welfare homes too. The dilapidated conditions of such homes were appalling and that an allowance of Rs 27 per day for each inmate for her daily diet was grossly insufficient, it pointed out.