Azad announces audit of maternal deaths

NEW DELHI - Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Monday said that an audit of maternal deaths will be conducted soon in all states.

“This year, we have taken another new initiative on a national level and that is the introduction of maternal death audits at the community as well as the facility level,” he said.

“Some states have already stared doing it, while others are in advanced stages of preparation,” said Azad said, pointing out that availability of accurate data on maternal mortality was a major concern for policy makers.

Addressing an international conference which will deliberate on achievements and drawbacks in the field of combatting maternal mortality, the minister described effective implementation of the existing schemes as the main problem.

“The lack of progress in improving maternal health presents itself a big global challenge,” Azad said while inaugurating the three-day Global Maternal Health Conference in the national capital.

“Many a time, finding the solutions is not the problem, implementing the solutions is the problem. Resource constraints in terms of infrastructure, supply of services and human resources present themselves as big challenges for most of the developing countries,” he said.

The conference attended by delegates from across the world will deliberate on the UN Millennium Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality rates.

“I am aware that a large number of maternal deaths take place in India, which can be prevented. By preventing the delays in seeking healthcare and by addressing the cause of maternal mortality, a lot of avoidable deaths can be prevented,” the minister said.

Elaborating on Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a central government-sponsored scheme aimed at reducing maternal mortality, the minister said the programme has been recognised internationally.

“In 2009-10, the scheme has benefited more than 10 million pregnant women. Last year, we spent more than $300 million (Rs.1,400 crore) under the scheme,” he said.

“While Janani Suraksha Yojana has generated a demand for services, the National Rural Health Mission has been able to strengthen the supply side,” he said.

The minister also highlighted that 57 new district hospitals, 435 new community health centres, 1,009 new primary health centres and 9,144 new health sub-centres have been constructed during the last five years.

In the same period, additional 8,624 doctors, 46,660 auxiliary nurse midwives, 26,793 staff nurses, 7,692 ayurvedic and unani doctors, 3,143 paramedics have been recruited to strengthen the public health system while approximately 700,000 accredited social health activists (ASHAs) have been appointed.