With the success indicator – infant mortality and mortality under age of five – at risk, additional specialists were requested for two hospitals in the east. The issue was raised during the mid-year review of the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) of the five eastern dzongkhags, yesterday.
Twenty cases of infant mortality and mortality under age of five were reported during the first half of the fiscal year 2017 – 2018 from the four dzongkhags of Monggar, Pema Gatshel, Samdrup Jongkhar and Trashigang. Considering this, officials requested for additional gynaecologist and paediatrician in Monggar Regional Hospital and Dewathang hospital in Samdrup Jongkhar to the Prime Minister.
“We have one gynaecologist in Monggar which is not enough to cater to everyone’s need. At the same time, there’s only one paediatrician in the hospital,” said Tashi Tenzin, the Officiating Dzongdag of Monggar Dzongkhag.
His view was echoed by the local leaders of Samdrup Jongkhar. “Most people from nearby dzongkhags visit the Dewathang hospital. Unfortunately, we do not have a paediatrician or a gynaecologist at the hospital. This is the reason why we have more cases of infant and child mortality,” said Leki Wangchuk, the Chairperson of Dzongkhag Tshogdu in Samdrup Jongkhar.
Dzongkhag health officials also requested for female health workers to encourage institutional child delivery. Prime Minister, Dasho Tshering Tobgay said, the issue will be given utmost attention. “We have a medical procedure to follow during the first six months of a child. Within that period it does not matter whether a child falls sick or not, he or she must be taken to the hospital,” stressed the Prime Minister. “After that, it is important we immediately take the child to the hospital when sick. And coming to the infant mortality rate indicator, which is at risk, we will have to carry out a thorough investigation to find out why.”
Meanwhile, during the review meeting, the five dzongkhags and Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde reported to have achieved more than 40 per cent of its annual success indicators.
