Today is National Safe Motherhood Day in India. National Safe Motherhood Day is observed on 11th April every year.
National Safe Motherhood Day is an initiative of the non-profit organisation, White Ribbon Alliance (WRA).
The White Ribbon alliance is working with an aim to ensure that pregnancy and childbirth are safe for all women and newborns.
This day also honours Kasturba Gandhi on her birth anniversary. Some statistics on motherhood are as follows:
- WHO: Around 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
- WHO: Worldwide maternal mortality has dropped by about 44 per cent between 1990 and 2015
- WHO: 50-98 per cent of maternal deaths are caused by direct obstetric causes – haemorrhage, infection, hypertensive disorders, ruptured uterus, hepatitis, and anaemia.
In 2011, to help the safety and health of mothers, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) was launched in India.
The scheme is estimated to benefit more than 12 million pregnant women who access Government health facilities for their delivery. It will motivate those who still choose to deliver at their homes to opt for institutional deliveries.
The following are the free entitlements for pregnant women :
- Free and cashless delivery
- Free C-Section
- Free drugs and consumables
- Free diagnostics
- Free diet during stay in the health institutions
- Free provision of blood
- Exemption from user charges
- Free transport from home to health institutions
- Free transport between facilities in case of referral
- Free drop back from Institutions to home after 48hrs stay
(Source: nhp.gov.in)
Infection prevention and safety is particularly important for mothers as Covid-19 spreads. Watch this video for some tips for pregnant women and small children.