Uttarakhand: CS Radha Raturi gave instructions to make ANC (antenatal checkup) tests compulsory for pregnant women and set up camps in sensitive districts

Chief Secretary Mrs. Radha Raturi has given instructions to make mandatory arrangements for vaccination of pregnant women and newborns in Anganwadis. To ensure that pregnant women living in remote and inaccessible areas in the hilly districts of the state can easily avail the facility of institutional delivery, the Chief Secretary has given instructions to fully implement the system of using One Stop Centres as waiting rooms for pregnant women in the hilly districts. While giving instructions for mandatory arrangements for ANC (Antenatal Check-up) for pregnant women, Chief Secretary Mrs. Radha Raturi has given instructions to provide ANC check-up facilities to pregnant women by organizing camps at village and block level in districts like Haridwar which have high maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate. The Chief Secretary has given instructions to counsel pregnant women during ANC check-up to ensure maximum number of deliveries in government hospitals. She has also given instructions to take help of non-governmental organisations and social organisations in this regard. She has given instructions to form a task force to investigate the reasons for lack of institutional deliveries in districts like Haridwar.

CS Mrs. Raturi has directed the Health Department to present an effective and concrete project for improving maternal health in the state with the help of CSR and NGOs along with government efforts. The Chief Secretary has directed to control the cases of anemia, strengthen Anganwadis for health and ANC checkup of newborns and pregnant women and to coordinate effectively with them. She has also directed to ensure the amount of micronutrients in the food given to children in schools.

While reviewing indicators like gender equality, nutrition, zero hunger, health in the context of the status of Uttarakhand in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Secretariat on Monday, Chief Secretary Mrs. Radha Raturi has directed to organize a meeting soon with the Health Department, NHM and Chief Medical Officers of all the districts regarding health data.

In the meeting, the Health Department informed that under Zero Hunger, 100% target of pregnant women availing the benefits of take home ration scheme has been achieved in all the districts of Uttarakhand. In the year 2019-21, the maternal mortality rate of the state was 103, infant mortality rate was 39.1.

Secretary Health, Additional Secretary Health, Planning, Director General Health and officers of related departments were present in the meeting.