Beyond borders and difficult roads, government hospitals in Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem keep specialised care going

In Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district, government hospitals continue to provide specialized care despite challenging circumstances. The story of Meghana from YSR Kadapa district illustrates the lengths families must go to afford necessary medical treatment. Meghana's family faced a long wait and exorbitant costs at private hospitals for her sinus surgery, prompting them to seek help from a government hospital in Bhadradri Kothagudem.

Dr. G. Ravi Babu, the District Coordinator of Hospital Services, referred Meghana to the Area Hospital at Yellandu, where ENT specialist Dr. Ravi Tejaswi performed a Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) along with septoplasty, bilateral turbinectomy, and middle meatal conchoplasty. The procedures successfully treated Meghana's sinus disease and relieved her nasal obstruction, saving her family from the financial burden of private care.

The commitment to accessible healthcare in remote areas is also evident at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Charla, Bhadradri Kothagudem district. Recently, the medical team conducted eight deliveries within 24 hours, including four normal births and four Caesarean sections. This remarkable feat was achieved despite heavy rains and difficult road conditions, with the team traveling approximately 60 km daily to provide maternity services at Charla.

Dr. Ravi Babu emphasizes the importance of local maternity services for residents of the remote mandal, noting that it has improved confidence in using government hospitals. Although the hospital faced a shortage of nursing personnel, recent recruitment has helped address the issue, with additional doctors recruited despite their remote location.