Awareness and better medical care are vital to reduce Maternal Mortality Rate: Governor

Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan on Monday said that awareness about the safe motherhood and access to better medical care are vital in reducing the maternal mortality rate.

She said that awareness about taking balanced and nutritious food, accessing medical help, vaccinations and promoting institutional deliveries are significant factors so as to bring down the maternal mortality rate.

The Governor, through a virtual mode from the Raj Bhavan, here, was addressing on the importance of maternal health and child care as part of the “Safe Motherhood Week and Child Care celebrations” organized by the IMA Tamil Nadu.

Expressing anguish over the spurt in maternal mortality during the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan stated that no pregnant woman should be denied of hospital admission or medical help under the pretext of COVID-19.

“Many such incidents of denying of hospital admission to pregnant women resulting in their death are really inhuman. Hospitals must give top priority to extend necessary medical help to all the pregnant women on a priority basis,” she added.

The Governor has also called for concerted efforts by all the stakeholders in reducing the maternal mortality rate to 90 per One Lakh live births as per the Sustainable Developmental Goals in our country.

“Though our country made a significant progress in reducing the MMR, still we are witnessing large number of maternal deaths when compared to developed countries. We must give the best possible medical care to the women,” she added.

Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan emphasized on the need for the care for women even before the conception, during the pregnancy, during the delivery and after the child birth.

“Nutrition, medical care like regular check up, follow-up, institutional deliveries will considerably reduce the preventable the maternal mortality,” she added.

The Governor cited the initiatives like KCR Kit in Telangana and Sanjeevani in Gujarat that resulted in more number of institutional deliveries resulting in reduced MMR.

Later, responding to a query during the interactive session with the medical students, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan found fault with the inhuman practice of stigmatizing of women for infertility.

“There are many factors that result in infertility. We should not stigmatize anybody for the same,” she added.

Indian Medical Association National President Dr. Jaya Lal, IMA National Vice President-2022 Dr. C N Raja, IMA TN branch president Dr. P. Rama Krishnan and others were present.