National Population Day
Support Maternal Health
11th July 2019
NSS Wing, Dronacharya Group of Institutions, Greater Noida organized a talk with a nearby village on “National Population Day Supporting Maternal Health” in order to eliminate unawareness regarding maternal health before and after pregnancy on 11th July, 2019. Eight students went to the village with a faculty head.
By taking the permission of Sarpanch, a meeting was held and villagers were asked to gather at chaupal.
One of the students initiated the talk by mentioning that maternal health remains a major public health problem in India and maternal mortality is considered a key health indicator of a country.
The major complications that account for nearly two-thirds of all maternal deaths are severe bleeding (mostly bleeding after childbirth), infections (usually after childbirth), high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), complications from delivery and unsafe abortions.
Pregnancy-related complications are the number one cause of death among girls between 15 and 19 years of age. Because adolescent girls are still growing themselves, they are at greater risk of complications if they become pregnant. Moreover, child brides are less likely to receive proper medical care while pregnant or to deliver in a health facility, compared to women married as adults.
All women need access to antenatal care in pregnancy, skilled care during childbirth, and care and support in the weeks after childbirth. All births should be assisted by skilled health professionals, as timely management and treatment can make the difference between life and death for both the mother and the baby. Students told them that it’s their right and they shouldn’t shy about it at all.
Students told them about various missions launched by GoI in favour of maternal health which could be availed by village women such as:
- The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): provides a fixed day for assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care free of cost to pregnant women on 9th of every month.
- Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK): this scheme encompasses free maternity services for women and children.
- JananiSurakshaYojana (JSY): JananiSurakshaYojana (JSY): it is being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
- Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram(JSSK): the initiative stipulates free drugs, diagnostics, blood and diet, besides free transport from home to institution, between facilities in case of a referral and drop back home.
- Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): to ensure quality antenatal care and high risk pregnancy detection in pregnant women on 9th of every month.
- LaQshya: focused and targeted approach to strengthen key processes related to the labour rooms and maternity operation theatres which aims at improving quality of care around birth and ensuring Respectful Maternity Care.
- Midwifery - to provide access to quality maternal and neonatal health services, to promote natural birthing, to ensure respectful care and to reduce over medicalization.
They politely asked them to follow few things:
- Tackle child marriage
- Provide access to contraception and safe abortions
- Empower women
Moving towards the end of the talk students mentioned, to achieve the global goal of improving maternal health and to save women’s lives we need to do more to reach those who are most at risk and made them understand that along with government, civilians had to take the responsibility.