Jamshedpur, Aug. 29: The health department has decided to set up a permanent training-cum-resource centre for medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College Hospital in a bid to increase the number of doctors having experience in carrying out abortions in East Singhbhum district.

According to sources, the centre will be set up with technical and financial assistance from IPAS, an American international funding agency that assists reproductive and child healthcare programmes.

A team of experts from the International Promotion Agency for Services (IPAS) is expected to visit the medical college hospital early next month to study its infrastructure and requirements.

A senior health official said the step was being taken by the department in view of the acute shortage of trained doctors in carrying out MTP operations in the district. Most government health centres do not have a single trained doctor to do the operations and a number of lady doctors who do such operations are not authorised for it.

“They do it to earn some extra money without realising that it could lead to complications in the reproductive system of the woman, resulting in sterility,” the official added.

East Singhbhum civil surgeon S.S. Birua said all government doctors, especially those in rural areas, will be required to undergo training in handling MTP cases.

“Our actual aim is to make available at least two doctors at every primary health centre (PHC) of the district who will be able to perform safe abortions. In the first phase, we will be take up up five PHCs and provide them with equipment, medicines and doctors having expertise in carrying out abortions,” said Birua.

He said the department might also make it compulsory for lady doctors posted in the district to undergo training for MTPs.

“This will also help check the flourishing illegal abortion centres in the district operated by untrained doctors,” he added.

Birua said the funding agency has also agreed in principle to support the awareness campaign for safe abortion and places where this facility is available.

The department will place hoardings at important places in the city with information on safe abortions.

The hoardings will also have names of the hospitals, nursing homes and clinics where authorised abortions are done.