Pilot Project in Arvi Reduces Maternal Mortality to Zero

The state health department has successfully completed a pilot project on maternal health in Arvi taluka of Wardha district in which the maternal mortality was brought down to zero in a year and stillbirths reduced by 30 percent. Overall hospital deliveries increased from 598 a year ago to 1229 while cesareans procedures went up from just six in January 2018 to 31 in November. The project is being replicated in Aheri taluka in Gadchiroli district. “The project basically brought all women in the taluka to deliver at a single hospital, the subdistrict hospital (SDH), instead of primary health centers and sub-centers. This made monitoring of all pregnant women, right from their first visit to hospital till the delivery, possible,” said Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, deputy director health services, Nagpur circle (six districts) in Vidarbha.

Dr Jaiswal further said the project also increased the available facilities at the SDH. “Chief minister’s PA Sumit Wankhede, who belongs to this place, got a donation of Rs 50 lakh from the Siddhivinayak Ganpati Trust Mumbai through which we could buy 14 different equipment, almost everything needed for a delivery,” he said. Impressed with the project, the state government increased the bed strength of this hospital to 100. It also will bring 150 persons under employment. The average number of deliveries have more than doubled from 50 per month to 112. The number of normal deliveries has increased from 592 to 885, which is about 80 deliveries a month, said Jaiswal. “Since facilities of two gynecologists, two anesthetists and two pediatricians have been created (even hired from private sector) it was possible to conduct 31 cesarean sections which were otherwise not possible,” he added.

The project aimed at addressing the causes of maternal deaths, which mainly include blood disorders (24 percent) and sepsis (10 percent) followed by hypertension (2 percent). Also, the non-medical causes included delay in deciding to seek care, identifying and reaching the facility and receiving adequate and appropriate treatment. The SDH was equipped with a blood storage unit under the supervision of district civil surgeon and experts were employed. An emergency obstetric kit was brought in. Standard protocols were followed for managing high blood pressure. Patients suspected of premature delivery were given corticosteroid injections and regularly monitored. Above all, every expectant mother was brought to the hospital in a government vehicle or ambulance and for check-ups and the sonographies. – TOI