Bhubaneswar: Odisha has been one of the big beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) if the data compiled by the Centre is any indication.
The statistics:
# Odisha figured among top 5 beneficiary states.
# Over 8,500 expectant mothers in their second and third trimester have received antenatal care under the programme.
# The State has 188 private doctors registering for the programme, which is three per cent of the total volunteers nationally.
# Across the nation, 5,800 private doctors have registered as volunteers.
The programme aims to provide assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care, free of cost, universally to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month.
It guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their 2nd/3rd trimesters of pregnancy at designated government health facilities.
It also seeks to motivate private practitioners to volunteer for the campaign developing strategies for generating awareness and appealing to the private sector to participate in the Abhiyan at government health facilities.
Data indicates that Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India was very high in the year 1990 with 556 women dying during childbirth per hundred thousand live births as compared to the global MMR of 385/lakh live births.