New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) In a meeting with health experts, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said that pregnancies at adequate intervals can improve the health of mothers and babies.
He said, “This will not only reduce health risks but will also empower women and families to make choices about their reproductive health.”
Citing initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), expanded PMSMA, identification of high-risk pregnancies, 'Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' and 'Postpartum Family Planning Programme', he emphasised that the Government has always been conscious of these issues.
He said that as a result of the efforts of the government, maternal mortality rate has declined from 130 to 97 per one lakh births.
He said, “The task of achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047 cannot be accomplished without empowering our women. The right time of conception and the gap between two pregnancies is very important for women's health.”
He said that some states have also included men in family planning.
Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director (NHM), Ministry of Family Welfare, said, “India has already achieved Total Fertility Rate (TFR) 2.0 with 31 States/UTs achieving the replacement level. An effective strategy is needed to bring the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) under replacement level in the remaining five States.”
Experts at the programme also highlighted various causes of maternal mortality, nutritional deficiencies due to inadequate gap between pregnancies and the importance of spacing between children.
To achieve successful results, the Minister stressed the need to identify and map areas, districts and blocks with low utilisation of family planning services.
-IANS
MKS/CBT
