South Kashmir’s only maternity hospital investment fails to deliver

Anantnag, Nov 13: The lone Maternity and Child Care Hospital (MCCH) in south Kashmir continues to operate from a dilapidated, cramped building in Anantnag, despite being declared unsafe by the Fire and Emergency Services in 2014.The facility, located in the congested Sherbagh area, remains the primary choice for pregnant women and newborns, despite severe space and safety concerns.The MCCH Anantnag handles an overwhelming number of patients, with over 40,000 in the Out-Patient Department (OPD) and around 7000 in-patient admissions every month.However, the hospital’s maternity ward, which was originally designed for only 40 beds, frequently operates beyond capacity.At times, two to three patients are forced to share a single bed, increasing the risk of infections and complications.A medic said that the shortage of space and poor hygiene in operating rooms and wards has led to high rates of cross-infection.