Anaemia, hypertension cases among expectant mothers at Civil Hospital

Hypertension and anaemia remain commonly reported among expectant mothers in Jalandhar — at one of the civil hospitals with the highest footfalls in the state. Over 40 mothers with severe anaemia and over 30 with hypertension were reported at the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar in January.

With a maternity OPD of an average 2,000 to 2,500 women per month, the Jalandhar Civil Hospital's mother and child care unit reports an average of 450 to 550 deliveries per month. In the year 2025, as many as 5,333 deliveries were reported at the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar (of which 3,123 were normal deliveries and 2,209 were C-sections).

In January this year (a relatively leaner month), as many as 451 deliveries took place — of which 259 were normal and 192 were C-sections (of which 74 were emergency night Caesarian section. Of these 451 deliveries, as many as 46 expectant mothers suffered from severe anaemia (45 received blood transfusion), 32 were reported with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Of the total 451 patients, two were HIV positive, 7 HCV positive and two for Hepatitis-B.

In January this year, one maternal death was reported at the Civil Hospital. Across last year (2025), only three maternal deaths were reported at the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar.

When The Tribune visited the maternity ward at the Civil Hospital today, as many as 70 patients were found admitted currently at the ever crowded maternity wing. The staff scrambled to handle four deliveries at a single time. The maternity ward with a total capacity of 120 beds has two labour rooms — with a total of six beds. The staff informed that per day deliveries number 10 to 16 (sometimes more).

A total of 10 babies were delivered at the Civil Hospital today— nearly six normal (not counting any deliveries coming up in the night) and four Caesarian sections. The maternity wing has six wards — including pre-natal, ante-natal and high-risk pregnancy cases etc.

Staff

The staff at the Civil Hospital informed that most districts with high-risk pregnancies — in the magnitude of those reported in Jalandhar — have medical colleges or other tertiary case centres for back-up to handle very serious cases. However, the Civil Hospital at Jalandhar lacks such a back-up centre.

At the maternity wing — in the unit's wards, only the position of eight staff nurses are filled for a total of 12 required as per IPHS norms. At the operation theatre too, there are only four nurses while six are required. The unit also requires one extra staff nurse for each shift — currently there is only one. Meanwhile, all five positions of doctors (four medical officers and one Senior Medical Officer are filled) and the labour room also has adequate staff nurses — eight.

Equipment

While each of the maternity ward beds has oxygen supply, in case of need, the maternity wing mothers are reliant on ventilators at the trauma ward. The Civil Hospital currently has 16 ventilators — 10 of these at the trauma centre. The maternity wing also has only seven baby photo therapy units. Hospital authorities said more have been applied for.

OfficialSpeak

Gynaecologist Dr Varinder Kaur, SMO and in-charge of the maternity wing at the Civil Hospital said, "For a Civil Hospital with one of the most footfalls in the state, our team is working diligently. Just days ago, our staff delivered a serious case — where it was a woman's fourth delivery and it was a placenta accreta (high-risk pregnancy) case. Usually, such cases are handled by medical colleges but our staff has been handling very severe cases."

Speaking on the other areas of maternity health needing attention, she said, "There are a significant number of anaemia and hypertension cases being reported. But we are doing our utmost to spread awareness and we also advise expectant mothers on the care they need for their health, including diet, exercise and mental health."