With the completion of the new building for the Community Health Department (CHD) under the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu, it is expected to improve the maternal related health services.
The construction of the four-storey CHD under phase one was completed in September this year and will be opened soon.
The community health department provides primary health care services to the pregnant women and children below the age of five. It also provides maternal related services such as antenatal and postnatal services, immunization of babies and health counselling among others.
“The building is quite large and spacious. We have also incorporated many things that were missing in the old building like conference hall, space for the mothers to do exercises and other services,” Dr Gosar Pema, the medical superintendent at JDWNRH, said.
The CHD was constructed at a cost of about Nu 225 M.
Meanwhile, the construction of six-storey Obstetrics and Paediatrics building under phase two is underway. The 150-bedded hospital is expected to address the bed shortage currently faced at the national referral hospital and also enhance the health services to mother and child.
Over 4500 babies are delivered at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) annually.
“At present, women after delivery are discharged within 24 hours. If women face a bit of complication we are supposed to keep them 48 or 72 hours but because of a shortage of bed and with many women waiting in line, we had to discharge them within 24 hours,” Dr Gosar Pemba said.
The Obstetrics and Paediatrics hospital is been constructed at a cost of close to Nu 1bn with funds from Indian Government. It is expected to complete by 2021.
