According to a data obtained by Republica from the maternity hospital, only 26 delivery cases were handled on April 25, the day when the mega-earthquake jolted the nation. Similarly, the hospital carried out 35 deliveries on April 26, 41 on April 27 and 49 on April 28 while 36, 56 and 55 women came for delivery on April 29, 30 and May 1 respectively. However, the number of delivery cases surged to 61 on May 2.The hospital receives up to 80 delivery patients on an average on normal days.
"The hospital has been seeing very few delivery patients in the aftermath of the quake as the aftershocks continue to hit the country," informed Administrator at Prasuti Griha Amar Amatya. He added that patients are choosing to get their delivery done at home instead of visiting hospitals fearing another earthquake.
"We are even receiving referral cases from Teaching and Civil hospitals as those hospitals are overrun by quake victims," he said.
On the other hand, the hospital is forced to admit very limited number of patients as the main building of the hospital is severely damaged by the quake. The hospital, which could accommodate 415 patients at a time, can now admit up to only 35.
In lack of beds, many delivering women are forced to lie down on the cold floors along the hospital corridors.
"We are forced to shift all our labs and wards to a single room," informed Amatya, adding, "We are planning to operate all our services as soon as the government hands us the new building whose construction has almost been completed."
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