The Tygerberg Hospital has initiated an early prevention response and designed a blueprint to manage the risk of COVID-19 for pregnant women.
According to the Western Cape’s Health Department infrastructure was improved with additional extractor fans, oxygen and electricity points including resuscitation and high-care area.
The Health Department said the necessary equipment was identified, motivated for, and purchased as the hospital also recruited and trained a dedicated obstetric team to work with COVID-19 positive and suspected COVID-19 obstetric patients.
“Pregnant women in the third trimester were more severely affected than women during early pregnancy when they developed COVID-19 pneumonia.
“COVID-19 also affects the unborn baby. They are more likely to be born prematurely and develop other complications. When the mother becomes unstable, her unborn baby can develop hypoxia (low oxygen levels) which can result in brain damage and intra-uterine death,” the Department said.
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The dedicated Obstetric COVID-19 Unit was established in 2020 and included an antenatal, labour, and high-care service and since November 2021, the unit has managed more than 400 women with COVID-19 related emergencies.
According to Obstetric Critical Care and Maternal Foetal Medicine specialist, Dr Eduard Langenegger, complications, including death, is much higher in pregnant women with COVID-19.
“Vaccination is safe and saves mothers and babies It is of utmost importance for eligible pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their babies,” Langenegger explained.
Meanwhile, the Tygerberg Obstetric High-Risk Clinic also work with the community vaccination centre on the premises to try to facilitate vaccination in pregnant women.
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Picture: WC Gov
