Concern over delivery deaths

Editorial, Central Chronicle, Nov 30, 2007

Despite of spending crores of rupees for improving the health of women, the continuing deaths of women, in the State, during delivery is a cause of concern. Answering a question in the State Vidhan Sabha, the Public Health Minister himself admitted that there were 3359 cases of mother-child death between the period January 1, 2006 and October 2007. Of these maximum 224 cases pertain to Shahdol. It may be noted that for publicity of National Rural Health Mission and RCH a whopping sum of Rs 8.36 crore was spent during the last two years. At the same time an amount of Rs 620.36 crore was allotted under National Rural Health Mission and RCH for the years 2006-07 and 2007-08. The break-up of deaths of women/kids at other places is- Guna 145, Shivpuri 105, Sidhi 169, Sagar 137, Jhabua 149, Dindori 138, Balaghat 135, Chhindwara 101 and Mandla 101. It is learnt that awareness is even now lacking in these places for performing deliveries at health centres. It is a matter of grave concern that even after spending Rs 8.5 crores in publicity of National Rural Health Mission and RCH during the years 2006-07 and 2007-08 the death rate could not be brought down. Hence it is essential that awareness be created in right earnest among the intended class to curb mother-child deaths. For this purpose, participation of literate people of villages and youths could be sought for. With rapid advancement in communication technologies and opening of health centres in rural areas, the maternal mortality could be minimised.