Nurses hone skills to help increase normal deliveries in government hospitals

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is focussing on increasing normal deliveries in State-run hospitals and PHCs in districts.

As part of this, gynaecologists and doctors working in hospitals have been given instructions to prefer normal delivery for primi cases (women giving birth for the first time) by sensitising the pregnant woman and concerned family members which they feel will help the cause.

At the same time, the health department has realised the important role of nurses in achieving this objective.

Accordingly, nurses working in Area and District Hospitals, CHCs (Community Health Centres) and PHCs (Primary Health Centres) that come under Vaidya Vidhana Parishad and Directorate of Health respectively are being given special training on midwifery skills and services that focus on ante-natal, labour room and post-delivery duties.

The first batch of 22 nurses working in hospitals and health centres in Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Khammam, Bhongir, Jangaon etc. were given a 15-day training with the help of experts from Fernandez Hospital.

Authorities are planning to hold these special training sessions for five to six different batches by roping in nurses from different districts in the coming days.

Although the idea to impart skill training is being welcomed, nurses point out the lacunae in the system. If this issue is not resolved, these sort of special skill programmes will not yield desired results, they said.

"During the nursing study, we are taught on OBG (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) for six months. Also, this special training on midwifery adds to that knowledge. However, the problem is the job role of nurses," a senior nurse said.

A separate cadre for midwifery services is there, but they are being made to work as multipurpose health workers by engaging them in community health programmes in case of PHCs and in general wards and regular duties in case of hospitals.

"Each PHC and VVP hospital should have dedicated nurses who are training in midwifery services and are confined to those responsibilities. This would considerably help in ensuring smooth operations and also increase the number of normal deliveries.

Also, the doctors' role is equally important as both should strive to work in coordination in case of any complications and emergencies that may arise during the process," stated a senior member of nurses association.

Also, the nursing association is disappointed that the services of seniors have not been utilised by the department, which roped in a private hospital for conducting the skill training programme.