Testing for Covid-19 infections Expectant mothers referred from Castle Hospital safe

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The Castle Street Maternity Hospital has referred 23 expectant mothers from March 20 to yesterday, to the Dr. Neville Fernando Hospital in Malabe for suspicion over COVID 19 infections, but fortunately, no one of them has been tested positive, Hospital Director Dr. Pradeep Wijesinghe said yesterday.

Dr. Wijesinghe said the hospital would not hesitate to seek special medical care for pregnant mothers because they were easily prone to viral infections and other complications.
“We don’t want to take chances on pregnant mothers as we have to protect hundreds of expectant mothers and infants. Therefore, if any mother shows any complication not related to pregnancy, we refer the mother immediately to the Dr. Neville Fernando hospital. However, I am glad that not a single mother sent there tested positive to COVID 19 infection,’ Dr. Wijesinghe said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Neville Fernando Hospital Director Dr. Nico Jayasekara confirmed that none of the expectant mothers referred to his hospital from any maternity hospital tested positive for the viral infection.
“We do the ‘Polymerase Chain Reaction’ (PCR) test on each and every pregnant mother referred to us from other hospitals. 

At the Neville Fernando Hospital, we have all the modern testing equipment and treatment for expectant mothers in particular. Up to date no mother tested positive for COVID 19 infection,” Dr. Jayasekara stressed.
The hospital has special medical facilities for expectant mothers, new born babies and children, he added.