India Achieves Maternal Mortality Ratio Target; Reduces MMR To 97

India has made notable strides in improving maternal health, with Union Health Minister JP Nadda confirming that the country has successfully met the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 target of reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to 100 per lakh live births by 2020.

Nadda highlighted the country’s alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to lower MMR to 70 by 2030.

Reduction In MMR & Health Policy Achievements

During his address in the Rajya Sabha, Nadda referred to the Sample Registration System (SRS) data released by the Registrar General of India, revealing that India’s current MMR stands at 97 per lakh live births.

This marks a significant decline of 33 points, down from 130 in 2014-16. India’s achievement surpasses the global reduction in maternal mortality, which has fallen by 42%, while India has reduced MMR by 83%.

Furthermore, Nadda pointed out that India has made substantial progress in reducing the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR), which has decreased by 75%, exceeding the global reduction rate of 58%.

These improvements are a testament to India’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare access and quality for mothers and children.

In 2019, the Indian government launched the Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) initiative, aimed at providing assured, dignified, respectful, and quality healthcare services at no cost.

The program ensures that no woman or newborn is denied healthcare services at public health facilities.

The SUMAN initiative categorizes public healthcare facilities into Basic, BEmONC (Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care), and CEmONC (Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care) centers, providing comprehensive care for expectant mothers.

Additionally, Nadda emphasized the certification of healthcare facilities under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) to maintain high-quality care.

The program includes key components like respectful maternity care, including a birth companion of choice, and a feedback system through ‘Mera Aspataal’ and a Grievance Redressal mechanism.

Training & Midwifery Programs

One of the key programs under the government’s efforts is the Midwifery Training Program, which aims to create nurse practitioner midwives (NPMs) skilled in providing international-level care.

NPMs help reduce medical interventions during childbirth, focusing on natural birthing techniques and alternative positions to enhance the birthing experience, especially in high-caseload areas.

India’s achievement in reducing its Maternal Mortality Ratio and implementing healthcare reforms through the SUMAN initiative and midwifery programs reflects a significant step towards improving maternal and newborn health.

With the goal of further reducing MMR to 70 by 2030, the government’s efforts are on track to meet global health targets, ensuring a healthier future for women and children across the nation.

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