State to upscale Matrutva Anudan

The state health department is planning to upgrade its 13-year-old programme that encourages institutional delivery.

The state health department is planning to upgrade its 13-year-old programme that encourages institutional delivery. Matrutva Anudan Yojana that was started in 1995 in tribal areas to encourage institutional delivery will now cover all the women in the state who deliver in government hospitals.

According to National Family Health Survey -III, only 75 per cent of women give birth at institutions. It8217;s established that low turn out at institutions for delivery is directly proportional to rise in Maternal Mortality Rate MMR and Infant Mortality Rate IMR.

8220;Matrutva Anudan Yojana , will soon be upscaled across Maharashtra and cover all women who deliver at government hospitals. All the women delivering at the hospitals will get Rs 800. The state has sanctioned Rs 200 crore for the same,8221; said Shomita Biswas, joint secretary, Family Welfare, Maharashtra. 8220;The women need to register themselves with the hospital and will get Rs 400 during Antenatal check-ups and the remaining Rs 400 will be given post delivery. This scheme is entirely funded by the state government,8221; she said.

The Central Government-sponsored Janani Suraksha Yojana scheme under Reproductive and Child Health programme II in the state 8212;- it was started recently in Mumbai 8212; only caters to Below Poverty Line BPL women and women belonging to schedule tribe and schedule caste. To tackle the shortage of gynecologists in the state, the public health department is planning to hire gynecologists from public and private hospitals from city area of each district on contract basis.

8220;We8217;re considering the idea of contractual doctors who will provide their services in villages for a stipulated time. This can be the second best option,8221; said Vandana Krishna, secretary and commissioner, Family Welfare, Maharashtra. 8220;We8217;re also planning to train MBBS doctors in conducting natural delivery also child care,8221; she added.