Mangaluru— In a major leap forward for maternal health services, the historic 174-year-old Government Lady Goschen Hospital in Mangaluru will soon open a modern Obstetrics Critical Care Unit (OCCU). This specialized facility is designed to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths during childbirth, with the hospital handling over 6,000 deliveries each year.
The OCCU will be located on the hospital’s second floor and outfitted with cutting-edge monitoring and life-saving technology. Rotary International is donating medical equipment worth ₹1 crore, which includes 20 patient monitors, 5 ventilators, a defibrillator, transport incubator, infusion pumps, and a crash cart. These items are currently in the procurement phase.
An additional ₹50 lakh has been sanctioned through government support and private contributions, raising the total investment to ₹1.5 crore.
This high-tech unit focuses on the crucial “golden hours”—the two hours before and after delivery—when both mother and baby are most vulnerable. Conditions like heavy postpartum bleeding often occur during transitions from delivery to general wards, highlighting the need for immediate intervention.
The facility will offer 18 beds, each with integrated oxygen supply and monitoring. It will also feature areas such as a pre-delivery lounge, labour wards, eclampsia care, a septic labour theatre, emergency C-section theatre, postnatal rooms, and a High Dependency Unit (HDU).
A temperature-regulated transport incubator with battery backup will ensure safe transfer of newborns, addressing a vital gap since the NICU is located on a separate floor.