Assam: DC to conduct maternal and child death review every month

Reviewing the maternal and child deaths at a meeting with senior officials of the health department at SK Roy Civil Hospital, Deputy Commissioner, Khan asked the health authorities to adopt measures to fill the gaps in service to reduce maternal and child deaths in the district. Hailakandi district recorded 41 maternal deaths and 417 child deaths (0-5 years) in 2017-18.

Khan instructed the in-charge of all the four Block Public Health Centers (BPHCs) to closely monitor and review the high risk pregnant women registered in the mother and child tracking web portal.

The Deputy Commissioner directed Joint Director, Health Services, Dr. Avijit Basu to hold district level sensitisation cum review meeting for the ANMs of sub centres and to the in-charge of the BPHCs to hold similar meetings at their level.

It was decided in the meeting to conduct maternal and child death review every month to address the gaps in quality of care vis-a-vis in existing health care delivery systems, prioritise and plan for intervention strategies and to reconfigure health services for corrective measures.

It may be mentioned that Assam is among 18 high focus States under the National Health Mission. These States account for about two-thirds of maternal deaths.