BHOPAL: In the year 2015, 113 women died during pregnancy in Madhya Pradesh which is the second highest in the country after Maharashtra, which reported 633 maternal deaths in the same period . According to the newly released report of National Crime Records Bureau, 25 women died due to abortion in the state.
In spite of several schemes running in state for improving the health of women and mothers-to-be, there has been a rise in the number of deaths, though nominal. In 2014, 109 women died in state during pregnancy. The schemes like Pradhanmantri Surakshit Matratva Yojna, Janani Suraksha Yojna, Asha and Aanganwadi workers could also not reduce the number of deaths of the to be mothers in state. The NHM Deputy Director, maternal health, Dr Archana Mishra, said that the deaths are caused due to and not just one but several reasons affecting the health of a pregnant woman. “During pregnancy, there are several precautions which need to be taken and supplements like iron folic tablets and vitamins are very important. The state is making extensive efforts to increase the intake of supplements among pregnant women”, she said.
The Asha and Aanganwadi workers make iron and vitamin supplements available and extensive training is provided to them for increasing the supplement intake among women but only 23 per cent women consume these medicines. National Health Mission (NHM) director Dr BN Chauhan said that it is very important to make sure that these supplements are taken by women.
CMHO Dr Veena Sinha, who is looking after the implementation of Surakhit Matratva Yojna in the district, said that the supplements are made available but sometimes even the women try to avoid the intake due to misconceptions. “We are working in the district to make sure that every pregnant woman takes medicines, comes for regular checkup and also follows the instructions given by doctors”, she said.
