“Carrying forward the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi, the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) is aimed
to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates through safe pregnancies and safe
deliveries. The national programme will provide special free antenatal care to
about 3 crore pregnant women across the country in order to detect and prevent
high risk pregnancies.” This was stated by Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of
Health and Family Welfare at the launch of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva
Abhiyan (PMSMA), here today. Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for
Health and Family Welfare, Shri C K Mishra, Secretary (Health) and Mr. Louis
George Arsenault, UNICEF Representative to India and were also present at the
occasion, along with other senior officials. Representatives from IMA, FOGSI,
Rotary International and other development partners were also present.
Shri Nadda stated that the nationwide programme will provide
fixed day assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care to pregnant women
on the 9th of every month. Pregnant women can now avail of a special
antenatal check-up in their second or third trimesters at Government health
facilities provided by gaenocology specialists/ physicians with support from
private sector doctors to supplement the efforts of the Government sector, Shri
Nadda stated. These services including ultrasound, blood and urine tests will
be provided in addition to the routine antenatal check-ups at the identified
health facility/outreach in both rural and urban areas. One of the aims is to
identify and follow-up on high risk pregnancies in order to reduce MMR and IMR,
he added.
Pointing out that private practitioners will play a critical
role in the success of this programme Shri Nadda said that this needs to be
made a national social movement which shall engage the doctors from the private
sector and other stakeholders. Shri Nadda administered the #IPledgeFor9 Pledge
for urging all to support this programme. The Health Minister appealed to the
private sector doctors to provide voluntary services to supplement the efforts
of the Government. “I call upon all stakeholders to be a part of this national
movement and work towards reduction in maternal and infant mortality”, he
stated.
The Health Minister pointed out that India is poised to work
towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in maternal and
child healthcare. He added that India has made substantial progress on several
indicators in the recent years and stated that its national health indicators
like Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Maternity Rate (MMR), Total
Fertility Rate (TFR) and under five mortality are declining faster a than the
world pace. “With Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) the
Ministry aims take this forward and improve upon the quality and coverage of
health facilities,” Shri Nadda elaborated.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste,
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare said that this is a significant
step towards reducing maternal mortality in India. We are targeting women who
have not received or dropped out of ANC check-ups and a minimum package of
investigations and medicines such as IFA and calcium supplements, would be
provided to all pregnant women attending the PMSMA clinics. Apart from
diagnostic and treatment services, counselling pregnant women is critical —
especially in cases of high-risk pregnancies, he stated. Shri Kulaste further
added that support from state governments, apex bodies like the IMA and the
FOGSI, Lions and Rotary clubs as well as development partners, have been
important in getting the campaign off the ground.
Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Shri C K
Mishra, Secretary (HFW) said that while much progress has been made in reducing
maternal and neonatal mortality, the PMSMA programme is based on the premise
that if each and every pregnant woman in India is examined by a physician and
appropriately investigated at least once during the pregnancy and then
appropriately followed up, the Abhiyan can avoid many preventable deaths.
At the function Shri J P Nadda also launched the PSMA Web
Portal & a Mobile Application along with the 360 degree communication package
to raise awareness about the campaign.
Dr S S Agarwal, National President,
IMA; Dr. Alka Kriplani, President FOGSI and several doctors from FOGSI, IMA and
Rotary International were also present at the function. FOGSI and IMA iterated
their commitment of support to the programme.
***
MV/SK