Introduction
Analysis of the maternal and infant mortality data revealed that 75% of maternal deaths occured during intra partum and post partum and 25% occured in antepartum. One common issue was that of referral. When the hospital where the pregnant woman accessed for care did not have adequate facilities, she had to be referred to another hospital elsewhere. Covering the distance between two hospitals at such a critical stage could prove fatal, as it was usually the complicated cases that were referred to other hospitals especially in the rural areas. Hence, it was decided to strengthen the obstetric and new born services in the hospitals which led to the creation of the ‘Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care’ Centres.
Establishment of CEmONC Centres
In September 2004, a Government Order was passed to establish CEmONC Centres in the State. During Phase 1, 66 Centres were established (52 project hospitals and 14 tertiary care centres) such that the travel time was reduced to approximately an hour. In Phase 2, 32 Centres were established and in Phase 3, 27 centres were established.
Salient Features of CEmONC Centres
The CEmONC Centre is equipped with both the manpower and the infrastructure required to care for the mother and the new born. Round the clock, the centre has Obstetricians, Paediatricians, Doctors, Staff Nurses, lab technicians, and support staff on duty and Anesthetists on call.
Intensive inputs were provided, in terms of training and physical infrastructure, to ensure quality care.
