(Rahul Bali, Senior Journalist and Media Columnist, New Delhi)
Award function was organized by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Bill & Melinda Fundation, UNICEF and USAID in New Delhi to honor the achievers. Awards were given by Shri J.P Nadda, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare. Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu are the states which received the awards for achieving Sustainable Development Goal for MMR. Dr Jaideep Malhotra, President, The Federation of Obstetric Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), said her presentation that FOGSI is committed to support “Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan”. “Private partnership with the government of India under the vision of Honorable Prime Minister Mr Modi achieved a phenomenal results in reducing Mother Mortality Ratio(MMR)”, she said. MMR is defined as the proportion of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births. India has registered a significant decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) recording a 22% reduction in such deaths since 2013, according to the Sample Registration System (SRS). PMSMA guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their 2nd/3rd trimesters of pregnancy at designated government health facilities.
