Dr Mazen Bishtawi, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist Head of Department at Al-Ahli Hospital
At Al-Ahli Hospital, women are being reassured that they will still receive the highest level of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Be pregnant or have a gynecology related condition such as fibroids, cysts or endometriosis, the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Al-Ahli Hospital provide services and utmost care. Pregnant women experience changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections.
But it is not currently known if pregnant women have a greater chance of getting sick from COVID-19 than the general public nor whether they are more likely to have serious illness as a result.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, Al Ahli Hospital was a COVID-19 free hospital, which means we don’t treat people infected with the virus, or suspected to be infected, according to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Health,” Dr Mazen Bishtawi, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist Head of Department at Al-Ahli Hospital. He also said that it was evident that many pregnant women had chosen AlAhli Hospital service for antenatal services and delivery as the public hospitals were busy dealing COVID-19 patients.
“We had a significant increase in number of pregnant women seeking our services, as we are a COVID-19 free hospital, antenatal clinics continued to function for one on one consultation with implementing preventive measures,” said Dr Bishtawi. He also said that pregnant women considered as vulnerable to COVID-19 because, if a pregnant woman get respiratory infection in the last three months of the pregnancy, it can cause them difficulties. Pregnant women seeking services at the Al-Ahli Hospital are advised to follow their appointments at antenatal clinics.
“Pregnant women need to get the essential consultations and scanning done. At Al-Ahli Hospital we encourage pregnant women to attend their antenatal clinic appointments, but we strongly advice to follow all COVID-19 preventive measures,” said Dr Bishtawi.
Although elective surgeries have been stopped at private hospitals, in case of pregnant women and those with gynecology related emergencies it will be considered as exceptional.
“We have seen several women coming to the Emergency Department with a serious gynecological condition. Therefore it was a necessary to take them for a surgery. We have conducted many such complexed surgeries in the recent weeks,” said Dr Bishtawi.
The Obstetrics and Gynecology Department is one of the busiest clinics in Al-Ahli Hospital which offers services on a 24/7 basis. In normal conditions, the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department performs procedures at a rate of 7-8 deliveries per day and 100 gynecological surgeries per month. With doctors holding post-graduate degrees, close antenatal supervision has been given high importance for the best outcome of pregnancy. To ensure the best condition of the expectant moms and their babies, an antenatal clinic is available for high-risk cases like diabetes with pregnancy, anemia, high blood pressure, previous pregnancy loss, pre- vious Caesarian section, multiple preg- nancies, breech presentation, growth restriction babies and premature labors.
