Spl events mark decade of antenatal safety scheme

Varanasi: On successful completion of 10 years of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), aimed at providing quality antenatal check-ups and safe motherhood services to pregnant women, ‘Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Diwas’ was organised on Tuesday at all community health centres, primary health centres and other urban health units in the district.

Arrangements were made for free health checkup of pregnant women, necessary counselling, laboratory tests and identification and appropriate management of high risk pregnancy (HRP. Under the programme, 3,987 pregnant women underwent antenatal check-ups (ANC), while 488 were identified with HRP. Special monitoring, timely treatment and referral services as required were ensured for the identified high-risk pregnant women. Specialists conducted health examination of pregnant women and made them aware about balanced diet, regular antenatal check-ups, institutional delivery and newborn care.

Chief medical officer Dr Mukesh Kumar said Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan has contributed significantly to the field of maternal and child health over past 10 years. Through the campaign, specialised medical services are made available to pregnant women on 1st, 9th, 16th and 24th of every month, which makes timely identification and treatment of high-risk pregnancies possible. He said safe motherhood is right of every woman and health department is continuously working in this direction.

CMO said a large number of pregnant women availed health services in the campaign and appealed to all pregnant women to undergo check-ups regularly and to avail free health services, to help reduce child mortality rate.