The National Safe Motherhood Day is annually observed across India on 11th April to create awareness about the importance of pregnancy care, safe delivery, Childbirth and postnatal services along with a focus on reducing anaemia.
- 11th of April was chosen to honour the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi.
- The National Safe Motherhood Day is an initiative of the White Ribbon Alliance India(WRAI), an alliance of around 1800 organisations.
Aim:
To ensure that pregnancy and childbirth are safe for all women and newborns.
Background:
i.In 2003, The Government of India declared 11th April of every year as the national Safe Motherhood Day.
ii.India became the first country to observe the National Safe Motherhood Day.
Maternal Mortality:
i.According to the World Health Organisation(WHO), around 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
ii.According to the data of the National Sample Registration System(SRS) the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India per 100000 live births has declined to 113 in 2016-18 from 130 in 2014 – 2016.
iii.Around 50 to 98% of maternal deaths are caused by direct obstetric causes like haemorrhage infection, hypertensive disorder, hepatitis and anaemia.
iv.India is one of the most high-risk places in the world to give birth, accounting for 15 per cent of total maternal deaths worldwide. Every year, 44,000 women die in India due to improper care during pregnancy.
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram to Ensure Safe Motherhood:
i.The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) was launched by the Ministry of health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India in 2011.
ii.Under this scheme, every pregnant woman became eligible to deliver a child in a public health institution free of cost.
Aim:
To motivate the people to opt for institutional deliveries instead of delivering at their homes.
