It is the firm resolve of our Government to bring maternal deaths down to zero across the State.
Today, I inaugurated the State-level workshop on "Surakshita Maatrutva Aashwaasana – SUMAN Roadmap 2030", organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in Bengaluru.
On this occasion, important guidebooks and awareness posters prepared to ensure the safety of mothers and newborns, including "Pre-Pregnancy Care" and the "Quality Antenatal Care Programme", were released.
Our Government is committed to bringing maternal deaths down to zero in every part of the State, reaching even the remotest villages. Towards this goal, we have decided to undertake several focused and effective measures.
Community participation will be given special priority. Awareness campaigns will be conducted at the Gram Panchayat level to promote maternal health and prevent avoidable maternal deaths. Gram Panchayats that achieve "Zero Maternal Deaths" will be recognised and felicitated at the State level. Local MLAs will also be involved in identifying and encouraging such Gram Panchayats in their respective constituencies.
A dedicated State-level unit for the prevention of maternal deaths will be established, with a designated officer to coordinate and monitor focused interventions across the State.
Around 60% of maternal deliveries in Karnataka take place in government hospitals. For instance, Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru records a higher number of deliveries than the combined total of private hospitals in the city. Similarly, Vani Vilas Hospital in Bengaluru handles a significant number of deliveries.
Our government hospitals are continuously upgrading medical infrastructure, adopting advanced technologies and strengthening healthcare services. Government doctors must also continuously update their knowledge and skills to effectively utilise these technologies. The SUMAN workshop provides an important platform for this learning and exchange of best practices.
The causes of maternal deaths vary from district to district. Therefore, district-level teams of officers will identify the specific local causes and take timely corrective action.
We will further strengthen the system for early identification and continuous tracking of High-Risk Pregnancies (HRPs). Birth Waiting Homes will be established at the district and taluka levels and, wherever required, at PHCs. High-risk pregnant women, identified well in advance, can stay at a Birth Waiting Home about a week before their expected date of delivery, depending on their clinical needs. This keeps them close to the right health facility, ensures timely specialist care and referral, and reduces the delays that cost mothers' lives.
There is also a need to establish a dedicated Women’s Health Policy to address the changing healthcare needs of women, including those arising from changing lifestyles and hormonal health. We will also appoint a dedicated Deputy Director to focus on women’s health.
Karnataka will become the first State in the country to establish a dedicated Women’s Health Policy.