IGMH introduces special arrangements for pregnant women

Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) introduced special arrangements for pregnant women amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the capital city of Male'.

Speaking at the press conference held at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Dr Mohamed Aseel Jaleel stated that IGMH would facilitate face-to-face consultations for pregnant women since phone consultations offered by the hospital may not suffice for many individuals seeking prenatal care.

He added that such consultations would be scheduled following a screening conducted via telephone and that medical care professionals would use personal protective equipment during treatment.

The doctor confirmed that gynecologists would also operate under special guidelines.

Furthermore, Dr Aseel stated that special provisions were made for pregnant women suspected to have COVID-19, as well as for those placed under quarantine or self isolation. He elaborated that several hotlines were established to enable such women to acquire medical assistance.

Additionally, he revealed that IGMH had collected information, including addresses, regarding women expected to give birth by the end of July.

Therefore the hospital would possess relevant records on any women brought in for urgent care during a medical emergency.

Noting that over 6,900 women give birth every year, Dr Aseel urged individuals to prioritize family planning and prevent unplanned pregnancies in response to the dangers posed by COVID-19.

Maldives' first confirmed case of COVID-19 within the capital city of Male', was recorded on April 15, involving a local woman that sought assistance from a flu clinic in Malé after developing symptoms.

HPA subsequently placed the greater Male' region under lockdown for 24 hours and extended the measures for a 14-day period on April 17 after new cases surfaced.

Maldives Police Service continues to issue permits for individuals that need to leave their homes for essential purposes including medical emergencies.

Maldives now records 129 positive cases, two probable and 113 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 16 recoveries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected over 2.8 million people and claimed over 197,200 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 798,700 people have recovered.