Despite progress in reducing maternal and child mortality rates in Maharashtra in recent years, these rates remain uneven across different regions. To investigate the medical and other underlying causes of deaths among newborns and children under the age of five in specific parts of the state, the Public Health Department has constituted a 21-member “jumbo committee.” The committee will be headed by the Secretary of the Public Health Department.
Tribal-dominated regions continue to report high maternal and child mortality rates. Identifying the precise reasons behind these deaths is crucial for formulating effective strategies to prevent them. As a result, the committee will include representatives from professional associations of pediatricians, gynecologists and obstetricians, anesthetists, and surgeons. The committee will convene meetings every six months and recommend health policies to the state government.
Analysis and Recommendations
According to a senior official, the committee will examine patterns behind the reported deaths, maintain detailed records, and carry out investigations and analyses to draw conclusions. Based on these findings, it will propose actionable measures.
Improving the quality of services provided during pregnancy and childbirth, and addressing health conditions affecting mothers, can significantly reduce maternal and child deaths. The committee is expected to advise on strategic interventions in government-run maternity homes, hospitals, and cases of home births in rural areas. These recommendations will help guide future public health policies aimed at reducing preventable deaths.
Source: Lokmat
