Our Correspondent
TURA:
In a bid to tackle the increasing cases of high maternal mortality rate in the state, the government is opening safe motherhood transit homes in several parts of the state and one such home was inaugurated by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma at Asanang village under the Rongram block of West Garo Hills, on August 12.
To be set up as a part of the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme, the homes, said the Chief Minister, will help bringing down the maternal mortality in an accelerated manner.
Conrad further added that the government has accorded priority to care for pregnant mother through the MOTHER programme and the safe motherhood scheme aims at increasing institutional deliveries and reducing maternal deaths to a minimum.
Notable, the State Health Policy 2021 identified maternal mortality to be of a major concern with 248 maternal deaths in the year 2020-21. He further added that the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood scheme (CM-SMS) aims to supplement the ongoing initiatives to bring down the mortality rates. He also informed that 80 PHCs have already completed setting up transit homes in the state.
Elaborating on the CM-SMS, the Chief Minister listed out its four main components – setting up transit homes for high-risk mothers, arranging for transport involving local entrepreneurs for pick up and drop of mothers and their family members, encourage husbands or family members to accompany the mother and stay with them (wage compensation up to Rs.1,000 per person) and award for the best performing village under each PHC once in a year.
Till date, 84 PHCs have arranged for vehicle support and Rs 36 crore has been earmarked for the scheme by dovetailing other programmes, including JananiSuraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) as well, the Chief Minister said.
He also informed that the programme tries to create a 360-degree support for the mother as the state has made it a matter to focus on the health of every single mother and child.
The Chief minister also informed that the maternal mortality death rate has come down over 35 per cent in the last six months in comparison to last year.
“The infant mortality rate is at 29 points against national average of 28 for the year 2020-21. We strive to bring it down to less than the national average soon,” he added.