Latest news with #A.VeronicaMary
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu has 665 private IVFs; activists demand the facility at GHs
A Right to Information (RTI) data procured by a Madurai-based health activist A. Veronica Mary has revealed that Tamil Nadu has a total of 665 private Invitro Fertilization centres. While the State had 155 IVF centres – 59 in Chennai, 14 in Coimbatore and 11 in Madurai – in 2021, now, the number has increased by many folds and stands at 665, Ms. Mary said. The whooping increase in private IVFs in the State was due to the rise in demand from the public due to the change in lifestyles, she added. Chennai stands first with 175 IVFs, and following it, Coimbatore has 69, Madurai has 41, Salem has 40, Tiruchi has 32, Dindigul has 30, Erode has 28, Kanniyakumari has 23, Virudhunagar has 16 and Dharmapuri has 14. As Tamil Nadu government, in early 2023, allotted ₹2.5 crore each for Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology Egmore Government Hospital and Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, she noted. But, in 2024, an IVF centre was started only at Egmore GH. She noted that even Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on a particular occasion asked the government to set up IVF centres in government hospitals. When the private IVF centres demand lakhs of rupees for treatment, how could people from southern district and other parts visit Chennai GH for treatment every time, she asked. 'As it is a long process, the patient must visit the hospital periodically at various stages of the treatment. So, it will be appropriate only if IVFs are opened at GHs in key districts in the State,' she noted.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Concern over ‘non-translation' of teenage pregnancies into POCSO Act cases
Based on Right To Information (RTI) data, an activist has expressed concern over the alleged non-translation of teenage pregnancies into Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases in Madurai district. As per the RTI obtained by A. Veronica Mary, a health activist based in Madurai, in the 87 Primary Health Centres (PHC), 55 in rural and 32 in urban, located in the district, a total of 1,127 deliveries were performed in teenagers, aged under 18, between 2023 and 2024. While 429 deliveries were registered in 2023, 698 deliveries were performed in 2024, according to the data. Of all the PHCs in the district, Saptur PHC with 31 deliveries stood first, and T. Pudhupatti PHC with 30 deliveries, Virathanur PHC with 29 deliveries, Kancharampettai PHC and Thaniyamangalam PHC with 26 deliveries and Thumbaipatti PHC 25, followed in the list. Ms. Mary, pointing out the appalling number of teenage pregnancies recorded in the PHCs, questioned whether all of the pregnancies had been translated into POCSO. As per the system, the doctor or the hospital or the institution, whoever is first learning about the pregnancy of a minor girl, either through Child Line number 1098 or through available means, should inform the district administration, she added. Following the registration of the complaint, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) or the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) should inform the police in addition to providing counselling or support to the victim, Ms. Mary stated. While there was a system or mechanism to bring the issue of teenage pregnancy to the notice of the police to follow up on the matter, the difference in POCSO cases in comparison with the RTI data showed that there existed a gap in the process, she alleged. Instead of reacting to such minor pregnancies, Social Welfare Department officials along with the Police Department should carry out awareness campaigns in schools and villages, she suggested. A social welfare department official who did not want to be named said that any information they receive regarding minor marriage or pregnancy, would be informed to the police. 'Even doctors are directed to inform the DCPU or social welfare department about the teenage pregnancies they come across. So, we have a tab on all such incidents in the district,' the official added.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Only one delivery in two years at Thandikudi GH on Kodaikanal hills, reveals RTI reply
Due to insufficient doctors and facilities at Thandikudi Government Hospital at Kodaikanal hills, only one delivery has been performed in the last two years, said a Right To Information (RTI) Act reply. Thandikudi GH, one of the three GHs in the hills, caters to the need of several hundreds of people, mostly Scheduled Tribes, residing in areas of Mangalamkombu, Malaiyakadu, Kottakombu, Kadukuthadi Pudur, among others. For the immediate medical assistance of the tribal people residing in those areas, Poolathur Primary Health Centre (PHC) best serves their needs, said the residents. But, for serious health conditions, pregnancies and accident treatments, the patients have to visit either of the three GHs – Thandikudi, Pannaikadu and Kodaikanal. For the people residing around the Thandikudi GH, accessing the other two GHs in the hills would mean travelling more than 25km to 30km. As the sole doctor at Thandikudi GH, due to the insufficient doctors and health workers, could not serve all the people, refers them either to GHs at Pannaikadu and Kodaikanal, located more than 25km to 30km away. Backing the claim of the people, a RTI data gathered by Madurai based health activist A. Veronica Mary specified that the Thandikudi GH has only one doctor in place of the sanctioned post of three doctors. While only 11 postings of pharmacists, nurses, technicians, of the 18 postings are filled, two positions of doctors and seven positions of paramedical staff remained vacant, the RTI reply added. Despite the hospital having 20 beds and having recorded an outpatient visit of 65,679 in 2023 and 75,780 in 2024, only a handful of people have been admitted as inpatients. Such patients, who wanted to get admitted for delivering babies, treated for accident injuries, were referred to hospitals in places like Kodaikanal, Badlagundu and Dindigul, said Ms. Veronica Mary. 'As the hospital has ultrasound scan machine to monitor the condition of the foetus during the pregnant women prenatal tests, due to the unavailability of a radiologist, pregnant women are referred to other hospital even for their periodical monthly check ups,' she alleged. To substitute for the vacant positions and to manage the burden, the existing doctor must rush to the hospital on 'call duty' even during odd hours, she stated. When the pregnant tribal women had to get admitted to hospital during their labour pain, they had to rush to the far away hospitals through the only mode of transport – bus, Ms. Veronica Mary noted. Due to unawareness about getting prior admission in hospital for delivery, most of the tribal women, instead of taking long-distance travel, preferred to deliver babies in their houses, she pointed out. 'Though they deliver their babies safely and mishaps are hardly reported, thanks to assistance of village elders, the hospital exists for such purposes,' she added. A health official in the district said the ultrasound machine was installed and a used one from a different hospital. 'As it collapsed recently, it is currently not in use,' the official added. Regarding doctors, the official said that as the GH was located in a very remote area, doctors preferred not to work there. 'Though appointments were due to the unwillingness of doctors, the positions still remain vacant,' the official noted.
