#IPledgeFor9: Initiative to save mothers and save newborns

New Delhi, December 26: Motherhood is a very sensitive emotion which a woman experiences during her time of pregnancy. Not only she but her whole family becomes cautious about her health during the whole period of nine months.

Keeping this in mind the government has introduced a programme known as Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan. It has been launched to provide assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care, free of cost, universally to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month.

The programme follows a systematic approach for engagement with private sector which includes motivating private practitioners to volunteer for the campaign developing strategies for generating awareness and appealing to the private sector to participate in the Abhiyan at government health facilities.

India has made considerable progress in the reduction of maternal and infant mortality, every year approximately 44000 women still die due to pregnancy-related causes and approximately 6.6 lakh infants die within the first 28 days of life. Many of these deaths are preventable and many lives can be saved if quality care is provided to pregnant women during their antenatal period and high risk factors such as severe anemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension etc are detected on time and managed well

This program ensures at least one antenatal checkup for all pregnant women in their second or third trimester by a physician/specialist, Appropriate birth planning and complication readiness for each pregnant woman especially those identified with any risk factor or comorbid condition, Special emphasis on early diagnosis, adequate and appropriate management of women with malnutrition and Special focus on adolescent and early pregnancies as these pregnancies need extra and specialized care.