The Perinatal centre at KLESH & MRC was inaugurated on 22nd April 2000 by her Excellency (Smt) Ramadevi , Governor of Karnataka. The centers objective is to improve the health care of the mother and the new born The departments of P& SM, Paediatrics, Obst. & Gynaec. and nursing participate in this task to provide the health care, and education required to improve the skills of the health care providers at periphery.

State of the art well - equipped ambulance is one of its kind which transfers the sick new born and high risk mothers in need of emergency to the tertiary care centers. The registrars and nurses on transport duty-specially for the ambulance move to the spot to pick up the high risk mothers or sick new born. The ambulance is equipped with transport incubator, pulse oxymeter, and ventilators with life support systems.

The Perinatal Centre caters to all practitioners in and around Belgaum to bring their problem cases to the Perinatal Centre to discuss with the team of exerts. Consisting of Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Vijay Pujar, Genetic Counselor Dr. Kamal Patil, Ultrasonologist Dr Shetty, Neonatologists Dr. Dhaded, Dr. Vasant Kumar, and the Obstetrician Dr. Nilgar B. R.

Under the guidance of Dr. H. B. Rajashekhar (Principal of I.N.M.C & Pro & HOD of Medicine) and Dr. Col. AK. Singh (Medical Director and Chief Executive), and Dr. V. D. Patil the centre has planned to undertake the "Perinatal Project" which aims at training traditional birth attainders and Anganwadi workers in the art of conducting safe delivery in the periphery.

The centre has conducted Indo-US Perinatal Conferences, and workshops on "mini hospital" - a skill orientated workshop for safe deliver and neonatal resuscitation. The high risk pregnancy identification and basic neonatal resuscitation have been under taken as "on going workshops" in small batches.

Every minute of every day somewhere in the world and most often in a developing country like India a woman dies from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. Half of all infant deaths can be attributed to poor maternal health. Moreover, the child that survives a mother's death is up to ten times more likely to die within two years, than a child with two living parents.

Perinatal care is the health care provided to pregnant mothers and newborn babies from 28th weeks of gestation to 4 weeks after birth. Pregnancy and childbirth is a potential risk. Any pregnant woman can have complications and die. Accurately predicting which woman will develop complications is not possible.

In Karnataka for every 1000 babies born 58 die before celebrating their first birthday. Of these 58, 75% die within the first weeks after birth. Perinatal mortality rate is 47, fourth highest in the country. Stillbirth rate is 14, second highest in the country. Situation being so grim in our state, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC and J. N. Medical College, Belgaum under the guidance of Perinatal Centre, School of Medicine, U.I.C., U S A, has a mammoth plan to take care of all the pregnant women at risk and newborn babies. In this direction a Perinatal Centre will be established with the goal.

To reduce the maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality
Services Provided under this centre will be,

Round the clock Perinatal Centre services will be available at KLESH and MRC (G-1) and CIVIL Hospital.

	Services of full time trained neonatologists
	Round the clock vitals monitored by electronic monitor.
	Ventilator care.
	Ancillary support (by higher specialities)
	Lab. Support 24 hours.
	Management of high risk pregnancy and delivery
	Labour monitoring (by Electronic equipments)
	Blood bank facilities
	USG diagnostic and interventional

Transport - Special Mobile Hospital like ambulance services for the transport of high risk pregnant mothers and new borns.

Training will be provided to all the medical and paramedical staff from government and non-government agencies involved in maternal and child health.

Perinatal society will be formed consisting of members from Government and Non-government organisation.

Consultants

	Dr. Vijay Pujar	Paediatric Surgeon
	Dr. Kamal Patil	Genetic Counselor
	Dr. Shetty	Ultrasonologist
	Dr. Dhaded	Neonatologists
	Dr. Vasant Kumar	Neonatologists
	Dr. Nilgar B. R.	Obstetrician