AP to collaborate with Sweden to curb its maternal deaths

Andhra Pradesh government is collaborating with Sweden to curb maternal mortality rate in the state.

The current maternal mortality rate in the State is 154 per one lakh live births while the rate in Sweden is just three.

The Swedish State Secretary Karin Johansson met AP Chief Minister K. Rosaiah in the secretariat here on Wednesday to discuss the collaboration in the health care sector.

The collaborative programme to reduce maternal mortality will be taken up under the National Rural Health Mission, according to State Health Minister Danam Nagender.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the Minister said they sought technical co-operation from Sweden to strengthen maternal healthcare in the state. Currently, the State Government was running a centre at Niloufer hospital here for maternal healthcare which would be strengthened with technical collaboration from Sweden, the Minister added.

Commissioner for Health and Family Welfare Anil C. Punetha and other senior officials attended the meeting.