After 18 deaths, Rajasthan sets up 5-day screening of pregnant women from July 15
The Rajasthan government has announced a five-day statewide screening campaign for all pregnant women from July 15, days after the state reported 18 maternal deaths
The Rajasthan government has announced a five-day statewide screening campaign for all pregnant women from July 15, days after the state reported 18 maternal deaths following childbirth since May this year. The alarm within the administration intensified after nine maternal deaths occurred in just six days between July 5 and July 10 across Bhilwara and Banswara districts. The deaths triggered panic among patients and their families and raised serious concerns over the state’s maternal healthcare system. Read Full Story During the five-day campaign, health officials will conduct comprehensive health screenings of pregnant women, maintain records of antenatal check-ups and ensure regular monitoring of their health. Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary of the Medical and Health Department, issued the directions during a video conference meeting with health officials on Tuesday. She instructed field-level workers, including ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Community Health Officers (CHOs), to carry out the screening process with "sensitivity and seriousness." Rathore said accountability would be fixed for ASHA workers, ANMs, CHOs and other officials if any negligence was found in the screening and monitoring of pregnant women. FOCUS ON HIGH RISK PREGNANCIES Rathore said early identification and timely management of high-risk pregnancies (HRPs) were crucial to preventing maternal deaths. She directed officials to ensure that every pregnant woman is registered within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and that all related information is updated on the Pregnancy and Child Tracking System (PCTS) portal.
Every pregnant woman will be required to undergo at least four antenatal care (ANC) check-ups, including tests for blood pressure, haemoglobin levels, weight, urine, blood sugar and other essential health parameters. Districts have also been instructed to develop separate tracking systems for high-risk pregnancies. Women with conditions such as anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, previous caesarean deliveries, twin pregnancies, excessive bleeding and other complications will be identified and provided regular follow-up care. Officials have been asked to maintain name-wise lists of high-risk pregnancy cases from the sub-health centre level to the district level and ensure periodic review by specialist doctors. MATERNAL DEATHS TO BE REVIEWED WITHIN 24 HOURS The government has directed districts to conduct an initial review of every maternal death within 24 hours and carry out a detailed Maternal Death Review as per guidelines. Officials have also been asked to conduct weekly reviews of high-risk pregnancies and maternal deaths, with action to be taken wherever lapses are found. Rathore directed health facilities to ensure that no pregnant woman is deprived of antenatal check-ups, haemoglobin tests, vaccination or institutional delivery services. She also instructed hospitals to maintain adequate stocks of essential medicines, ensure availability of blood and keep labour rooms, operation theatres and newborn resuscitation equipment fully functional. WHAT RAJASTHAN GOVERNMENT SAID Amid growing concerns, Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said the pattern of deaths had surprised authorities and that experts had been called in to determine the cause.
The BriefWire