Infant Mortality Rate, Maternal Mortality Rate on the rise in Vizag district

Visakhapatnam: Maternal Mortality Rate and Infant Mortality Rate are increasing in Visakhapatnam district. Though the government is claiming that measures are being taken to check the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), 16 more deaths were reported from February to April this year.

During the past two months (December 2017 and January 2018), 12 deaths were reported in the district. Action plans, special taskforce and stringent warnings to the medical staff are not controlling the IMR and MMR in the district.

Expressing his dissent over the increase of the mothers deaths, Collector Pravin Kumar directed the district medical and health officer R Ramesh to initiate action against medical officers concerned, ANM and Asha workers.

Collector Pravin Kumar convened a review meeting to check the IMR and MMR on Thursday. While observing that during the three months, 16 death were reported, the Collector vented his ire at the medical officers.

Not only in the agency and rural areas, but also the death cases were reported in the urban areas. What are the steps being taken up to check the IMR and MMR, Pravin Kumar questioned the officials?

The Collector directed the officials to identify the high-risk cases and handover the responsibilities to look after the pregnant women’s welfare to the Asha workers and ANMs of the area concerned. If necessary, pregnant women should be admitted to the nearest government hospital, the Collector directed the officials.

While explaining, the medical officers informed that due to lack of proper roads and ambulance service during the emergency, the women are moving to the hospitals and health centres by foot are the reasons behind the deaths.

Responding to the issue, the Collector directed the medical officers to identify the pregnant women and admit them in the health centres in advance to prevent the deaths in the district.

Speaking at the meeting, DMHO Ramesh said that orders were issued to take up the special training to ANMs. The Primary Health Centre wise training will be started from June 1 onwards and on every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 

The ANMs would be trained to identify the high-risk pregnant cases during the classes, the DMHO added. Due to the high BP and heart related issues, 16 death cases were reported from February to April this year, the DMHP explained.