Despite many public health interventions to ensure safe delivery by pregnant women, maternal mortality is still on the rise in Madurai district.
According to health officials, Madurai is figuring in “high risk” category in maternal mortality since its rate is higher than the State average.
After taking stock of the worrying situation, the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project (TNHSP) has launched a pilot project across the district to identify high-risk mothers for keeping them under surveillance all through the pregnancy period and especially at the time of delivery.
“While the maternal mortality State average is 90 per one lakh live births, it is higher than that in Madurai district. More women are dying due to multiple risk factors and delivery complications. Through our constant monitoring, all pregnant women especially those in rural areas will be specially taken care of,” S.Natarajan, District Coordinator, TNHSP, said on Wednesday.
In 2011-12, maternal mortality was 110 in the district while it had gone up to 114 in the year 2012-13.
To bring down maternal deaths gradually, pregnant women who are prone to risks are being identified through special screening camps being conducted now in all the 13 blocks in the district.
In the first camp which was conducted on August 30 covering areas including Vellaloor, Kallikudi and Thoddappanaickanur, the medical teams have identified 419 pregnant women at high risk.
Similarly, 537 high risk mothers have been identified in the second camp held on September 6 for Tirupparankundram, T.Kallupatti and Karunkalakudi.
Dr.Natarajan said that the village health nurses will keep a tab on expected date of delivery of each pregnant woman and high risk cases will be admitted a week before the due date either in Government Rajaji Hospital or in the Government Hospitals at Usilampatti, Melur or Thirumangalam depending on the requirement.
Blood pressure, hypertension, anaemia and diabetes are among the major factors which keep a pregnant woman at risk. “Camps will be conducted every week and data will be maintained by us. Maternal mortality is a matter of concern and hence the TNHSP has taken up this initiative in Madurai district. Five types of tests are being conducted for pregnant women,” he said. Dr.Natarajan also said that every pregnant woman must eat iron rich food during the carrying period.
Besides Madurai, the other districts in the State which have been categorised as high risk as far as maternal mortality is concerned include Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin and Cuddalore.
