Despite the implementation of several welfare schemes to reduce infant mortality rate (IMR), and maternal mortality rate (MMR), and to improve access to maternal healthcare across Andhra Pradesh, the State government is not achieving desired results.
At a one-day sensitisation programme ‘Mana Bhavitha’ on Thursday, a resource tracking mechanism known as ‘Nutrition and Health Tracking System’ was launched by Principal Secretary of Women and Child Welfare Department Neelam Sahani. Raising concern over loopholes in the system, she said: “The status of high-risk pregnant women can be monitored through the new tracking system that comprises comprehensive data collected from Aganwadi centres across villages. The system has been put in place to prevent maternal and new-born deaths,” she said. The programme, that shifted the spotlight on core issues connected to healthier motherhood, neonatal care and child healthcare, among other heads, was organised jointly by Women and Child Welfare Department and Panchayat Raj Department
Conducting regular village level convergence involving ANMs, aganwadi workers and sarpanches, focusing on implementing Mana Bhavitha programme that comprises 20 sutras and identifying high-risk pregnant women and providing necessary support system would be part of the proposed system.
Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Water Supply Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu urged village sarpanches to develop innovative ideas as they played a crucial role in bringing about changes in the system. “There is no dearth of funds to accelerate the strategies that are meant to bring down IMR and MMR as Rs.1,280 crore has been sanctioned to the Panchayat Raj Department under 13{+t}{+h}Finance Commission grants. In addition, about Rs.5,000 crore is expected to be released under 14{+t}{+h}Finance Commission grants to focus on rural welfare measures,” he said. Later, he checked how the Nutrition and Health Tracking System connected directly to pregnant women located in rural areas.
Anna Amrutha Hastham along with 250 schemes and welfare projects were brought to the fore by Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Welfare Peethala Sujatha. She called for an integrated approach among various departments to free the State from infant and maternal mortality rates.
Rural Development Minister K. Mrinalini, ZP Chairperson Lalam Bhavani, District Collector N. Yuvaraj, director of Women Development and Child Welfare Department P. Usha Kumari, members of MPPs and ZPPs and sarpanches from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam participated.
The mechanism works on data collected from anganwadi centres across villages
