Battling foggy vision, dehydration, Patiala gynaecologists script success

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 24

Everyone has been limiting their visits outdoor, and stepping out only when it’s important in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. However, for doctors having to head out to their workplaces is inevitable. Battling the odds, doctors at the gynecology department of Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, are carrying out deliveries of Covid positive women successfully.

In all, 14 women, who had tested positive, have delivered their babies at the hospital, with no reports of maternal and infant death so far.

Given that doctors have to wear their PPE suits at all times, it has become difficult for them to carry out the deliveries because of low visibility and communication problems.

Dr Parneet Kaur, incharge, gynaecology department, said the delivery of Covid patients continued to throw practical challenges that were hard to tackle. She said: “We have developed a sign language to communicate with our patients. Also, wearing the PPE suit for long hours fogs our vision. Therefore, I ask my staff to drink adequate water to avoid dehydration before carrying out any delivery.”

Besides, taking care of both newborn and Covid positive mother is another challenge faced by the doctors, as they have to ensure that the infection in not contracted by the infant.

Dr Parneet Kaur said women had to wear a mask and sanitise their hands before breastfeeding their newborns. “Only at the time of breastfeeding, the newborn is allowed to be close to its mother. Otherwise, a minimum of 1 m distance is maintained between the two,” added Dr Parneet.

Dr Jatinder Kansal, district health and family welfare officer, said: “In situations where all the family members of an infant were tested positive for Covid019, we encountered a difficulty in finding a person to take care of the newborn. Despite all challenges, we have been carrying out the deliveries of Covid positive women successfully.”