Updated By: LatestGKGS Desk
WHO: India Praised for Reducing Maternal Mortality Ratio by 77%
WHO: India Praised for Reducing Maternal Mortality Ratio by 77%
The WHO commended India's progress in reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 77 percent, from 556 per one lac live births in 1990 to 130 per one lac live births in 2016.
This progress placed India on track towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of an MMR below 70 by 2030.
India's present MMR is below the Millennium Development Goal target. According to WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Poonam Khetrapal, India has made a concerted push to increase access to quality maternal health services with the coverage of essential maternal health services has doubled since 2005.
The factors that have enabled Indian women to better control their reproductive lives and make decisions that reflect their own interests and wants are:
India has put significant emphasis on mitigating social determinants of maternal health. Women in India are now more literate than ever, with 68% are now able to read and write. They are also entering marriage at the older age, with just 27% now wedded before age of 18.
The Government of India also has put in substantive efforts to facilitate positive engagement between the public and private healthcare providers.
Public campaigns such as Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan have been introduced with great impact, allowing women access to antenatal check-ups, obstetric gynecologists and to track high-risk pregnancies.
