Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma has revealed that maternal deaths in the state have come down over 35 per cent in the last six months compared to previous year.
“The Infant mortality is at 29 points against the national average of 28 for the year 2020-21. We strive to bring it down to less than national average soon,” CM Conrad Sangma said on August 12 at the inauguration of a transit home under the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme (CMSMS) at Assanggre under Rongram community & rural development block in West Garo Hills district.
The transit home has been set up by the government as part of the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme. The State Health Policy 2021 has identified maternal mortality to be of a major concern having 248 maternal deaths in the year 2020-21.
The Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood scheme (CM-SMS) aims to supplement the ongoing initiatives for bringing down the maternal mortality in an accelerated manner.
Sangma said that the Meghalaya government has accorded priority on care for pregnant mother through the mother programme and the safe motherhood scheme aims at increasing institutional deliveries and reducing maternal deaths to a minimum.
He informed that the scheme has four main components – setting up transit home for high risk mothers, provide them food and space for their kids, arranging transport involving local entrepreneurs for pick up and drop of mothers and their family members, encourage husbands or family members to accompany the mother and stay with them and wage compensation up to Rs 1,000 per person.
The Meghalaya chief minister said that 80 primary health centres (PHCs) have already completed setting up transit homes and an award will be given for the best performing village under each PHC once in a year.
