self- help: Concern over Madhya Pradesh maternal mortality rate

Bhopal - Expressing concern over the high maternal mortality rate in Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal Archbishop Pascal Topno has called upon self-help groups to help check the menace. With 13,000 reported deaths every year during or post pregnancy, the maternal mortality rate of the state is one of the highest in the country. Addressing a women’s meet at the missionary-run Asha Niketan Welfare Centre here, Topno urged them to tap government programmes and schemes to promote safe motherhood. More than 250 self-help groups from various districts, including Hoshangabad and Sehore, participated in the meet organised by the Madhya Pradesh Samaj Sewa Sanstha. ‘The main causes behind the high rate of maternal mortality include delay in recognising complications in the first pregnancy, hindrances in getting pregnant women to hospitals and pregnant women not getting any medical facility at all,’ other speakers noted. However, they acknowledged that the government was beginning to tackle the issue of maternal mortality on priority basis ever since activists encouraged by the UNICEF started the issue. While UNICEF communication officer Anil Gulati helped accomplish an action plan to combat maternal deaths, Vandana Agarwal of the same organisation elaborated on the causes of such deaths and measures to prevent them. ‘Anaemia is one of the important factors contributing to maternal deaths,’ she told the participants and explained how to recognise its symptoms and prevent it early. Chief medical and health officer D.S. Ohri detailed various schemes run by the health department to promote safe motherhood. Copyright © IndiaeNews.com. Reproduction of news articles or any other content in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of India eNews is prohibited.