Shillong, Nov 6: The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Tura Maternity and Child Hospital will become operational before Christmas, it was informed after a review meeting held yesterday.
The review was led by the Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Sampath Kumar, along with Commissioner and Secretary Joram Beda in the presence of other officials.
The team was informed that the Tura Maternity and Child Hospital (TMCH) facility has been upgraded with the addition of a new wing with 50 bed strength as well as establishment of the first public NICU and strengthening of the special newborn care unit (SNCU). This facility will be inaugurated before Christmas. All these efforts aim to improve maternal and infant health indicators through development of capacity at the TMCH.
A consultative meeting was also held with private hospitals of Garo Hills.
Various senior administrators and specialists agreed on the importance of unified efforts to reduce preventable maternal deaths through public-private collaboration. Support for the treatment of poor patients at the private hospitals under the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme (CMSMS) is also slated to be formalised to ensure that maternal cases referred from government health facilities receive cashless and timely care.
Severe anaemia was flagged as a persistent, high-impact risk and will be a priority focus. Hospitals will intensify early screening during antenatal care, ensure a steady supply of iron sucrose (with ferrous ascorbate as an option) and run targeted outreach in vulnerable communities.
To raise maternal health service standards in Tura MCH and to assist the Medical Superintendent, the state has deputed a maternal and child health specialist through the World Bank-supported Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MHSSP) for the last four months to provide expert inputs and independent quality reviews.
