Question : MATERNITY DEATHS DUE TO VARIOUS DISEASES

(a) whether a large number of maternity deaths occur in the rural areas due to various diseases;

(b) if so,the details thereof alongwith the names of the diseases;and

(c) the specific measures taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE(SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)

(a) to (c): The latest survey report titled “Maternal Mortality in India: 1997-2003 trends, causes and risk factors” published in the year 2006 by the Registrar General of India–Sample Registration System, gives the leading causes of maternal mortality as “hemorrhage-38%”, “sepsis-11%”, “abortion-8%”, “obstructed labour-5%”, “hypertensive disorders-5%” and “other conditions-34%”. The same report states that the risk of a female dying of these causes is higher in the rural areas.

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) (2005-2012),and under its umbrella,the Reproductive and Child Health Programme Phase II,launched by the Government of India in the year 2005,aims to improve access to equitable,affordable,accountable and effective primary health care,in the rural areas of the country,especially for poor women and children, with a special focus on 18 States which have weak public health indicators and weak infrastructure.Under the Mission, the following key strategies and interventions are being implemented to accelerate the pace of reduction in maternal mortality due to different causes,namely Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a cash benefit scheme to promote Institutional Delivery with a special focus on Below Poverty Line (BPL)and SC/ST pregnant women;Operationalizing Community Health Centers as First Referral Units (FRUs)and Primary Health Centers for 24X7 services; Augmenting the availability of skilled manpower by means of different skill-based trainings such as Skilled Birth Attendance;training of MBBS Doctors in Life Saving Anesthetic Skills and Emergency Obstetric Care including Caesarian Section;Provision of Ante-natal and Post Natal Care services; prevention and treatment of Anemia by supplementation with Iron and Folic Acid tablets during pregnancy and lactation;Organizing Village Health & Nutrition Day at Anganwadi Centers; Appointment of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) to facilitate accessing of health care services by the community including pregnant women;Strengthening of Health Facilities, that is,District Hospitals,Community Health Centres (CHCs) Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub Centres(SCs),by providing them with funds including untied grants,Annual Maintenance Grants (AMG) and Corpus Funds to improve service delivery.