Imphal, September 23 2009: As there is no functioning ultra sound machine in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of RIMS Hospital, where over 10,000 pregnant mothers are being admitted for delivery cases in a year, many patients, specially those coming from far flung areas have been facing lots of problems.

Although most of the pregnant mothers do not take the help of ultra sound machines in the past, with advancement in medical science, the doctors have been advising the pregnant mothers to undergo ultra sound test at least thrice during pregnancy.

This is to prevent the pregnant mothers from encountering birth related complication apart from ensuring the well-being of child to be born.

Although there used to an ultra sound machine at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of RIMS, where patients can undergo test by paying a nominal charge, the same has been lying idle for more than four years now.

Though the Department has submitted proposals to the authorities of RIMS for installing a new machine, the same is yet to be realised.

It may be noted here that in accordance with the annual report, 2008-09 of RIMS, on an average, every day over 300 patients come to the OPD of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of RIMS and over 45,617 annual.

Furthermore, the total number of patients admitted to the wards of the Department in a year is put at 12,613 and those who undergo major operation at 4,052 and minor operation at 1,355 .

Among these patients, 2,557 are emergency cases.

The report also mentioned that there were 11,096 delivery cases out of which 8 died during child birth.

Talking to The Sangai Express in connection with non-functioning of the installed ultra sound machine, a senior gynaecologist of RIMS informed that the ultra sound machine lying in the labour room of the Department has not been functioning for five years now and proposals have been submitted repeatedly to the Purchase Committee for procuring a new machine but to no avail.

As the ultra sound machine has not been working, patients have been facing lot of difficulties, apart from the problems faced by the doctors.

The senior gynaecologist further informed that it is the normal advice of the doctors to pregnant mothers to take ultra sound test atleast three times right from conception to the delivery stage.

This is essential in understanding the position of the foetus.

An ultra sound machine inside the labour room is also a must for spot diagnosis in case of complication during child birth.

In fact, there should be atleast two ultra sound machines in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department alone.

It is learnt while the ultra sound machine of the Department was still functioning, a nominal fee of Rs 50 used to be charged from a patient and around 15 to 20 patients take be charged from a patient and around 15 to 20 patients have the ultra sound test on an average daily.

Pramodini of Moirang who was found admitting in the antenatal ward of the Department informed that he had taken ultra sound testing thrice, the first two at Babina Clinic and the third one at Imphal Hospital and each test had cost her Rs 350 .

''Because of financial constraints in the family, I had to even sell off my cloths to raise the money'', she disclosed, adding that ultra sound test is something one cannot skip just because there is no money.

When contacted an official disclosed that the proposal for a new ultra sound machine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department has already been approved by the Purchase Committee and process is underway for buying a the machine.

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