142 facilities identified to manage high-risk pregnancies

Srinagar, Feb 05: Jammu and Kashmir has identified 142 health facilities designated as Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) clinics which include DHs/CHCs/ some PHCs having all the facilities needed to manage High-Risk Pregnancies.
Mission Director, NHM, J&K, Nazim Zai Khan said pregnant women who are categorized as high-risk pregnancy will get access to good specialist doctors at their doorsteps.
“From the indicator point of view, we have to look at both IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) and MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate). Such programs are aimed to limit both IMR and MMR and once indicators go down then the program is successful,” he said.
Khan said under HRP program the main objective of the department is to reduce the mortalities that occur during pregnancies and mortalities that occur after the pregnancies.
“The HRP program is designated to tackle high-risk women during the pregnancy and make sure that they deliver without risk factors,” he said.
Subsequently, the health department will survey to gather data and analyze trends, providing insights into the number of women facing health issues. Currently, the program is proving effective.
The PMSMA is an initiative for early identification and management of high-risk pregnancies to avoid preventable maternal deaths.
“It aims to provide quality antenatal care on 9th of every month so that every pregnant woman receives at least one special check-up in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy and to ensure that no high-risk pregnancy goes undetected,” said an official of the NHM J&K.
To strengthen the existing PMSMA, MoHFW, GoI has launched e-PMSMA for tracking HRPs wherein case-based incentives to ASHAs and case-based incentives to HRPs are given to ensure active identification, tracking and safe delivery for all high-risk pregnant women which will accelerate the pace of reduction of maternal mortality in the UT.
The official said that the service package of PSMA includes check up by OBGY/CEmONC/BEmONC Specialist and referral to higher healthcare facilities if required and provision of essential blood investigations & USG.
The screening for 10 high-risk factors includes severe anemia, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, HIV, Syphilis, hypothyroidism, tuberculosis, malaria, previous LSCS, Young Primi (less than 20years) or elderly gravid (more than 35years), previous history of multiple pregnancy and patient with a history of any current systemic illness (es)/past history of illness.
“Under the said program, 142 health facilities have been identified and designated as PMSMA clinics in J&K which include DHs/ CHCs/ some PHCs having all the facilities needed to manage high risk pregnancies,” they said.
During the current financial year till December 2023 end, 14,227 high-risk pregnancies were identified at early stage and managed at identified health facilities out of total 49,580 pregnant women who received antenatal care under this program.
The official said in addition the various other initiatives under NHM that help in the early identification and management of high-risk pregnancies include deployment of 13,641 ASHAs at village/hamlets in all districts for early identification, counseling, tracking and escorting the pregnant women to the nearest health facilities and ensure institutional delivery.
They said to manage HRPs which need intensive monitoring and ICU facility, maternal ICUs/HDUs have been established at all the tertiary care as well as district-level hospitals.
The majority of women’s lives are lost during pregnancy and childbirth can be prevented with quality antenatal care and the presence of a skilled health care provider during childbirth.
The official said the government health schemes have been successful in increasing institutional deliveries, however, there is a need to provide quality services uniformly.
The move also aims to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child by identifying and supporting pregnant women who are HIV-positive and it will link health systems with communities to make sure mothers and babies receive the quality care they need.