"This year we have taken another new initiative on a national level, and that is of introduction of Maternal Death Audits at the community as well as the facility level. Some states have already stared doing it, while others are in advanced stages of preparation" said Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
The exact number of deaths during child birth is not available with the ministry. But the data available with the sample registration system of the registrar general of India, hints at a decline in the figures from 301 per 100,000 live births during 2001-03 to 254 per 100,000 live births in 2004-06.
India has a target of reducing the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) to 109 per 100,000 live births by 2015 as stated in UN’s Millennium Development Goals.
Among the 70,000 deaths due to pregnancy-related complications every year 70 per cent is preventable.
The government still faces a lot of problems in implementing the solution to fight against maternal mortality. India like other countries has a shortage of specialists like gynaecologists, anaesthetists and paediatricians, that adds up to the problem.
However the government has not been behind in tackling the problem. A Central government-sponsored scheme, Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), which aims to reduce maternal mortality, has been internationally recognised. The scheme has benefited more than 10 million pregnant women in 2009-2010.
The government is also planning to launch a new programme for better menstrual health of adolescent girls very soon. As adolescent anaemia and maternal anaemia is a major cause for concern in the country.
