The city has reported 39 Zika positive cases, including 13 pregnant women. However, only one facility run by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) provides essential pre-natal scans to check for Zika infection. These tests are crucial for expecting mothers as the virus can lead to severe pregnancy complications, such as congenital Zika syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and microcephaly.
What are these Pre-natal Scans?
Anomaly scans are perform between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. They check the physical development of the fetus and can detect congenital disorders and significant abnormalities in the brain, spine, limbs, neck, chest, lungs, and heart. The nuchal translucency (NT) test is done earlier, between 11 and 13 weeks.
And helps determine the chances of the baby having chromosomal abnormalities.
Current Situation in PMC Facilities
Despite having regular ultrasound facilities at around 15 hospitals, only Kamala Nehru Hospital offers NT and anomaly scans. The PMC health department has only two doctors trained for these advanced ultrasound tests, as 17 radiologist positions are vacant. Civic officials mentioned that while ultrasound machines are available in many PMC-run hospitals, they cannot conduct these advanced tests due to a lack of trained experts.
Dr. Sanjeev Wavare, assistant health officer at PMC, stated, “The civic facility of ultrasound is available free of cost at 15 healthcare facilities, but advance tests carries out only at one hospital. We have two doctors to conduct advanced tests. We had issued an advertisement for appointment of radiologists twice but there was no response.”
Dr. Lata Trimbake, medical superintendent of PMC maternity homes, add, “We advise expecting mothers to get NT and anomaly scans. There is a shortage of radiologists in municipal hospitals.”
Impact on Pregnant Women
Currently, there are 3,795 expecting mothers living in active Zika transmission areas in the city. According to central government guidelines, all pregnant women from Zika-affected regions should undergo two ultrasound examinations: the first between 18-20 weeks of pregnancy and the second between 28-30 weeks. These anomaly and NT scans are recommended to detect any congenital disorders or abnormalities due to the virus infection.
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Zika virus transmission
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) highlights that Zika virus transmission can occur through mosquito bites, from mother to fetus, and during sexual transmission.
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