The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : ‘Safe motherhood’ still remains a slogan

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‘Safe motherhood’ still remains a slogan

Staff Reporter

800 mothers died in 30 months’ time in 8 districts of KBK region

White Ribbon Alliance conducts survey in State from last quarter of 2005 to September 2007
Deliver Now to be implemented in 12 districts on a pilot basis

BHUBANESWAR: National Safe Motherhood Day appears to be a slogan especially in Orissa where mothers’ deaths are still ‘alarmingly high’.

Eight poverty-stricken districts of KBK region have lost as many as 800 mothers during 30 months time. As high as 57 per cent of these mothers lost their lives within a week of giving birth to their children.

The disturbing figures came to the light here on Friday when ‘Deliver Now’, a global advocacy drive was launched for 12 districts of the State.

The survey was carried out by White Ribbon Alliance (WRA), Orissa from last quarter of 2005 to September 2007.

Quoting WRA survey, former director of State Health Services Seba Mohapatra said, “Forty mothers died due to insecure pregnancy, 64 during child delivery and 696 mothers lost lives after delivering a child.”

What is the main reason behind such high number of deaths? “We have failed to get the best out of service provided by auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) in rural set up. As high as 60 per cent of ANMs have not been able to provide the care needed for mothers,” WRA-Orissa President Shaktidhar Sahoo said.

He said the government health sector too lagged behind in putting adequate infrastructure in place to take care of mothers.

Though the institutional delivery system improved in Orissa, there had been no let up in deaths of mother, Mr. Sahoo said elaborating that “the Janani Surakshya Yojana attracted a large number of mothers to have institutional delivery, but there has not been enough space available in our hospitals to keep them under observations for few more days.”

Grim situation

The situation continued to be grim as the State lost 8 to 9 mothers everyday, he said. The figure tells the whole story.

In 1998, when 407 mothers were dying out of every 100000 live births in national level, 367 mothers’ deaths were taking place in Orissa. But five years down the line, against the national maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 301, (more than 100 points less than earlier figure), State’s MMR was 358 (an improvement of nine points).

To reduce MMR and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Deliver Now will be implemented in 12 districts on pilot basis. Based on its success, it would be extended to other parts of the country.

Under the programme, public hearings would be conducted in targeted districts where health service providers will face barrage of questions from people.

Moreover, attempts would be made to make general masses aware about their entitlements in health services being provided by the government. Oriya film actor Anu Choudhury was appointed as ambassador for the programme.

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