Raj govt to conduct intensive health screening of all pregnant women

Jaipur, July 14 (AHN) In a major initiative to strengthen maternal and child health services and further reduce the maternal mortality rate, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government will conduct intensive health screening of all pregnant women across Rajasthan, officials said on Tuesday.

A five-day statewide campaign will begin on Wednesday, during which critical antenatal health parameters will be screened, essential prenatal records maintained, and the health of pregnant women monitored regularly.

Rajasthan Medical and Health Department Principal Secretary, Gayatri Rathore, issued these directions to medical officers across the state during a video conference held at Swasthya Bhawan on Tuesday.

She instructed that the screening drive be carried out with utmost sensitivity and seriousness through ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), and Community Health Officers (CHOs).

She emphasised that accountability would be fixed for ASHA workers, ANMs, CHOs, and other concerned officials in cases of negligence related to antenatal check-ups and regular screening of pregnant women.

Officials from the Medical Education Department, National Health Mission (NHM), Directorate, Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs), Reproductive and Child Health Officers (RCHOs), block-level officers, and district officials participated in the meeting virtually.

The Principal Secretary said that every maternal death is a matter of grave concern and that ensuring quality healthcare throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period remains the state government's highest priority.

She noted that timely identification and management of High-Risk Pregnancies (HRPs) play a critical role in preventing maternal deaths.

She directed that every pregnancy must be registered within the first 12 weeks of conception and that all relevant information should be entered promptly into the Pregnancy, Child Tracking and Health Services Management System (PCTS) portal.

Principal Secretary Rathore directed that every pregnant woman must receive at least four quality Antenatal Care (ANC) check-ups. These should include blood pressure, haemoglobin, weight, urine, blood sugar, and other essential investigations, with all records updated regularly.

She instructed all districts to establish a dedicated tracking system for High-Risk Pregnancies (HRP) by ensuring timely identification and continuous follow-up of women suffering from anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, previous Caesarean section, twin pregnancy, excessive bleeding, and other complications.

She also directed officials to maintain name-wise lists of all HRP cases from the sub-health centre to the district level and ensure regular review by specialist doctors.

The Principal Secretary directed districts to conduct a preliminary review and a formal Maternal Death Review (MDR) within 24 hours of every maternal death.

She also instructed officials to hold weekly reviews of High-Risk Pregnancies and maternal deaths and to fix accountability wherever negligence is established.

She stressed that no pregnant woman should be deprived of ANC services, haemoglobin testing, immunisation, or institutional delivery.

All healthcare facilities must ensure the availability of essential life-saving medicines, adequate blood supply, fully functional labour rooms and operation theatres, and neonatal resuscitation equipment.

She further directed all health institutions to ensure 100 per cent compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and national safe motherhood guidelines.

Special emphasis was placed on regular monitoring and effective field-level implementation to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

She warned that strict action would be taken against officials and personnel found negligent at any level.

Rajasthan's Medical and Health Department Director of Public Health, Ravi Prakash Sharma, reviewed ANC and HRP-related issues with district medical officers.

He stressed the need for continuous monitoring of every High-Risk Pregnancy and directed that complete medical records accompany every referral case.

He also delivered a detailed presentation on screening protocols and treatment of pregnant women.

NHM Mission Director Jogaram told the meeting that detailed guidelines for labour rooms and operation theatres had already been issued.

He instructed Chief Medical and Health Officers to ensure strict compliance with these guidelines and to undertake periodic sanitisation of facilities.

Other senior officials also attended the meeting.

It needs to be mentioned here that there have been cases reported in Bhilwara, Banswara, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Kota where pregnant women lost their lives due to kidney failures post surgeries in last few months.