In an attempt to ensure maternal benefits reach to more number of pregnant women, Tripura Government will launch a fortnight long initiative titled Adarsh Matritva Yojana in the State from July 1 next, Director of NHM, Tripura Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal said while addressing the media in Agartala on Wednesday.
“Even as institutional deliveries in Tripura stand at 89 percent as per the National Family Health Survey -5, the survey indicated only 63 per cent of the pregnant women are being registered within the first trimester (1st three months during pregnancy). The registration is essential as several basic tests – at least four ante-natal tests during the entire pregnancy period – are being conducted on the expectant mothers.
However, only 53 per cent of pregnant women undergo 4 or more tests in Tripura”, Jaiswal said and added, this is an area which the State Health Department is working to improve.
He told the media, “We will launch state wide Adarsh Matritva Yojana (AMY) from July 1 next and will continue till July 14 next. Total 59 thousand 870 pregnant women were identified in Tripura and out of this, 29 thousand 937 expectant mothers would receive health care facilities in the first phase of the AMY”.
Jaiswal also shed lights on implementation of the AMY with the help of ASHA, Anganwadi workers and other concerned health personnel as well as public representatives. He also narrated several facilities that would be available free of cost including financial assistance under different government schemes. Besides, the Yojana will also generate awareness on vaccination and nutritional diet.
While, Sonography facilities are available in some District, there is a scarcity of staff for Sonography etc,. To address this issue, the Health Department would take help from private Sonologists etc and pay an honorarium to them, he commented.
On another note, the NHM Director said, Tripura is one of the States where prevalence of teenage marriage is high, so we are trying to prevent this with the help of Social Welfare department and in cases where marriages were solemnized, we stress on delaying the teenage pregnancy as it is a high risk pregnancy – both mother and the child are at risk.