Focus On High Risk Pregnancies To Check Maternal Deaths

Chandigarh, May 31, 2016: A meeting of the governing body of State Health Society, National Health Mission, Punjab was held here today. The meeting was chaired by Ms.Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Punjab on behalf of Chief Secretary, Punjab.
During the meeting the progress of the State Health Society (National Health Mission) along with the support of stake holder departments was reviewed by the Chairperson. The key area discussed under RBSK included the coverage of children studying in schools and anganwadis of the state. It was apprised that a special software has be designed by the education department and every Govt./Aided school is mapped. Micro plans are prepared and are available in the website of School Education Department. The visits of the mobile health teams to the school are well intimated 4 days in advance through special software via SMS so that maximum numbers of students are available on that particular day. About 82% students have been covered during 2015-16. Ms. Vini Mahajan directed the officers to ensure 100 % coverage, including all Government/Aided school/Anganwadi Centre/Shelter Homes/Observation homes etc. She also asked the education department to put in place a mechanism to check the immunization status of children in private schools especially at the time of admission. The chairperson also instructed the health department to provide a copy of immunization schedule to all the private schools The Health Department officers informed that during 2015-16, 19807 schools were visited by the teams and 2219653 children were screened for various medical ailments. 3.5 Lakh children out of total 30 lakh children screened in schools and anganwadis have been referred to hospitals for further follow-up. Ms. Mahajan laid emphasis regarding detailed investigation of maternal deaths for figuring out evidence-based underlying causes, so that future maternal deaths may be curtailed. This is important as State has reported 403 maternal deaths last year out of which 30% deaths were either at home or in-transit after complication during delivery. The chairperson also stressed for proper sensitization of high-risk pregnant mothers so that they visit hospitals for safe deliveries and complications could be avoided at the time of delivery.
Performance of National Health Mission, Punjab during 2015-16 with regard to optimum utilization of funds was appreciated, due to which the state was able get an additional incentive grant of 10% from Government of India. Ms. Mahajan stated that Punjab state has submitted an ambitious plan of 708.33 crores for the year 2016-17. State is going to initiate the free diagnostic scheme in all Public Health Facilities and free diagnosis & treatment for thyroid disease in pregnant women. Free treatment of Hepatitis C for all shall also be implemented in the state.
Sh. Hussan Lal, MD National Health Mission, Punjab, Dr. Abhinav Trikha Special Secretary Water & Sanitation, Punjab, Sh. Mohammad Tayyab, Special Secretary Housing and Development, Punjab, Dr. H S Bali Director Health Services, Dr. Usha Bansal, Director Family Welfare, Dr. Gulshan Rai Director (SI), Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Professor and Head, School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, Mr. A K Kansal Engineer-in-chief local government, Dr. Shashi Kant, Director NHM, Punjab, Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Director PHSC among others were present in the meeting
The meeting was also attended by the senior officers of the departments of Health and Family Welfare, Education, Social Security, Women and Child development, Water and Sanitation, Housing and Urban development, Rural development and Panchayats, PGIMER Chandigarh and social organizations.