Health

KEY POINTS

·         As per the Sample Registration System bulletin released recently, India has registered a 77 per cent decline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR).

·         Socio-economically backward areas referred to as the Empowered Action Group (EAG) States have registered the maximum decline in MMR.

·         Several initiatives in health and nutrition areas such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana have made this achievement possible.

·         Improvements in key economic and social factors such as growth in per capita Net State Domestic Product, reduction in poverty ratio, increasing female literacy, declining child marriages are also major contributors.

Issues & Solutions

·         Regional inequalities – Data pertaining to the different causes of maternal deaths need to be analysed and policy actions to be prioritised accordingly.

·         Haemorrhage – Explore the possibility of a national blood transfusion service network considering that India has a blood supply deficit of 25 per cent as against the WHO prescribed reserve of 1 per cent of the population.

·         Anaemia – A comprehensive package of services delivered by multiple ministries will need to be brought under the POSHAN Abhiyaan umbrella.

·         It will foster convergence among programmes focused on the pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-pregnancy phases.

·         Shortage of trained human resources – Human resource compensation packages for personnel working in remote and rural areas need to be made more attractive.

·         Additionally, the focus in gynaecology training needs to be on imparting practical skills in the management of labour and deliveries.

·         Educate – Investments in girls’ education need to be stepped up.

·         Customised policy interventions are the need of the hour.

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