The Government of
India has decided to declare 11th April as the National
Safe Motherhood Day. This is the birthday of Kasturba Gandhi and
it is appropriate that this day be dedicated to draw attention
to issue of safe pregnancy and child birth. The event will be
marked by the launch of an awareness campaign, rallies, village
contact drive, etc.
As per the estimates
of Registrar General of India for every 1,00,000 live births,
407 mothers die every year due to pregnancy related causes. This
implies that more than one lakh women in India die every year
due to causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. The major causes
of these deaths have been identified as anemia, hemorrhage (both
ante and post partum), toxemia (Hypertension during pregnancy),
obstructed labour, puerperal sepsis (infections after delivery)
and unsafe abortions. These causes are preventable with proper
antenatal care, safe delivery and adequate postnatal care.
In the coming year,
many schemes and programmes are proposed to be launched for safe
motherhood e.g. declaration of hospital as ‘mother friendly’,
setting up of post partum clinics etc.
Government of India
may institute Presidential Award for extra-ordinary achievements
in preventing maternal deaths. The Award can be given to those
districts, who have made significant progress to reduce Maternal
Mortality, FRUs that have handled maximum referral, organizations
which have performed well, skilled providers midwives, nurses,
trained dais in life saving acts.
Government would
also develop linkages with a number of national and international
organizations to promote safe motherhood. White Ribbon Alliance
is a group of international organizations which was formed in
an effort to raise awareness of the need to make pregnancy and
childbirth safe for all women in both developed and developing
countries. The Alliance envisaged that a broad based coalition
could make this a priority issue for international organizations
and governments. The While Ribbon is a symbol for those who wish
to promote safe motherhood. The Ribbon is dedicated to the memory
of all women who have died of pregnancy related complications.
