Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda today said that during the past ten years, the government, through the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan has strengthened maternal and child healthcare services across the country and has laid a strong foundation for a healthier and more resilient India. Mr Nadda said this while launching the nationwide celebrations to commemorate ten years of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) under the theme 10 Years of PMSMA – A Decade of Care in New Delhi. He emphasized that ensuring the health and well-being of mothers is fundamental to building a healthy nation and achieving the vision of a Swasth Bharat.
Mr Nadda noted that under the Government’s maternal healthcare framework, pregnant women receive regular antenatal check-ups, including a specialist-led examination under PMSMA. The Minister added that the initiative has ensured that women in the country are not deprived of the healthcare they require during pregnancy and it has assisted in providing timely medical treatment to them. He highlighted that the maternal mortality ratio has declined by 86 per cent. He further said that India has recorded a 79 percent decline in Under-Five Mortality Rate and 70 percent decline in neonatal mortality.
Mr Nadda noted that institutional deliveries have increased to 90.6 percent, while the proportion of mothers receiving antenatal care has risen to 95.9 percent. The Minister said, the achievement reflects country’s strengthened healthcare systems, improved service delivery and enhanced awareness among families regarding maternal health.
On the occasion, the Minister also released a special 75 rupees commemorative Coin and a 5-rupee postal stamp to celebrate the ten-year milestone of PMSMA and recognize its contribution towards strengthening maternal healthcare in the country. As part of the celebrations, awareness and outreach activities will be organized across States and Union Territories to encourage pregnant women and their families to avail the free services.
Launched in June 2016, PMSMA is a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, designed to provide assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care services free of cost to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month. The initiative is aimed reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by facilitating early detection and prompt management of high-risk pregnancies.
