Scheme fillip to childbirth, mother care

Institutional deliveries have significantly increased in Gaya district, courtesy the mother and child tracking system (MCTS) launched by the state government in 2011.

According to the records with the district health society, Gaya witnessed 32,561 institutional deliveries in 2010-11, which increased to 40,455 in 2011-12.

During the current financial year 2012-13, more than 18,000 online registrations of expecting women have been done in the district in April and May.

The health department claimed that there had been a decline in the infant mortality rate (IMR) and the maternal mortality rate (MMR) after the launch of MCTS in the district.

Though no official data has been collected to substantiate the claim, officials said institutional delivery instead of traditional one at home helped to bring down the IMR and the MMR.

Gaya district public relations officer (DPRO) Dhiraj Narayan Sudhanshu said: “The increase in the number of registration of pregnant women has helped the department provide them with necessary health facilities besides immunising the newborn child.”

Immunisation of children has increased to 78 per cent in 2011-12 from 76 per cent in 2010-11.

The MCTS has proved to be far more effective than other mother and child welfare schemes like Janani Baal Suraksha Yojana (SBSY), Muskaan Ek Abhiyan and Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Day, said a health official.

District magistrate Bandana Preyashi has been reviewing the progress of MCTS on monthly basis.

Under the MCTS, a card having a unique number is provided to the beneficiary woman after registration. Through this number, the woman and her child can get health facilities anywhere in the district.

Before the launch of MCTS, tracking expecting women and her child was a big problem for the health department.

“Several pregnant women preferred to go to other places, including their parents’ place, for delivery because of lack of adequate healthcare facilities in their area. This not only deprived the women of health facilities but also the newborn child of immunisation process. Auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) have been provided training to ensure effective implementation and evaluation of MCTS in the district,” the DPRO said.