Promoting Maternal Health: Quality Healthcare Delivery System In Tamil Nadu (image:indiafilings.com)
Every woman has the right to access safe motherhood care, and it is the duty of the government to ensure quality maternal health services. Although India has made significant progress with a 59% reduction in maternal deaths over the past decade, it still accounts for 19% of global maternal deaths. To address this, the Indian government has been implementing national programmes focused on maternal and child care since 1952, to improve healthcare outcomes for mothers and children.
Recently, a user named The Cancer Doctor on X shared about antenatal healthcare services provided by the Tamil Nadu government.
This is the pinnacle of medical health care delivery system in Tamil Nadu, that I’m experiencing first hand. After my sister got pregnant, we registered the pregnancy in the nearest primary health care centre. She didn’t took any treatment and her regular Antenatal checkups are… pic.twitter.com/ZTQqj90Ngo
— The Cancer Doctor (@DoctorHussain96) September 1, 2024
The Health and Family Welfare Department in Tamil Nadu has increased financial support for underprivileged pregnant women from ₹12,000 to ₹18,000, and also introduced a Nutrition Kit to help reduce Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). This enhanced scheme provides essential nutrition to expectant and breastfeeding mothers, compensating for lost wages during pregnancy, and promoting healthier outcomes for both mothers and babies.
The financial assistance scheme for poor pregnant mothers provides five installments of support. The first installment of ₹2,000 is given upon antenatal registration before 12 weeks, followed by a second installment of ₹2,000 after four months. A third installment of ₹4,000 is provided after delivery, and a fourth installment of ₹4,000 is given after completion of all required vaccinations for the infant. Finally, a fifth installment of ₹2,000 is provided after completion of the Measles Rubella vaccination between 9-12 months of the infant’s age, totaling ₹18,000 in support. To be eligible for the financial assistance scheme, a pregnant mother must be at least 19 years old, and she can receive all five installments for two deliveries; however, mothers from Hard to Reach (HOB) areas and migrant mothers can receive the first and fifth installments in advance under certain conditions.
The Nutrition Kit for pregnant mothers includes a package comprises, 1 kg of Health Mix Powder, 3 bottles of IFA Syrup, 1 kg of dates, 500 gms of protein biscuits, 500 gms of Aavin Ghee, 3 tablets of Albendazole, and 1 towel, aiming to provide essential nutrition and care for expectant mothers.
According to Health Management Information System (HMIS) data, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a significant decline in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), from 52.2 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022-2023 to 45.5 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023-2024. This improvement reverses the trend of rising MMR during the COVID-19 pandemic years, indicating a positive shift in maternal healthcare outcomes in the state.
Tamil Nadu has a comprehensive healthcare system, boasting an extensive network of 8,706 Sub-Health Centres (SHCs), 1,421 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 235 Secondary District Hospitals (SDHs), 29 District Hospitals (DHs), and 15 medical college hospitals, with the SHCs and PHCs operating under the supervision of the Director of Public Health, ensuring widespread access to healthcare services.
(Nazwin Basheer has produced this article as part of a Timeline Internship Programme)
