PMSMA prog crosses one crore-mark; Nadda thanks govt

New Delhi, Jan 19: Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) programme, which provides free health check-ups to pregnant women at government health centres and hospitals, has crossed one crore mark in ante-natal check-ups.

Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching the programme, said, “More than one crore antenatal check-ups have been conducted under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, which has provided quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women on the 9th of every month. Now safe pregnancy has become a social movement in our country.”
He said the programme has been successful in reaching out to the difficult and remote areas of India, since out of the one crore checkups across the country, more than 25 lakh check-ups were conducted in high priority districts identified by the Health Ministry for focussed attention.
“While all states/UTs have made significant efforts to reach out to pregnant women, Maharashtra has reported the largest number of check-ups among the Non-Empowered Action Group (EAG) states and Rajasthan has reported the largest number of check-ups among the Empowered Action Group States. All pregnant women visiting the PMSMA sites are examined by an obstetrician/ physician and appropriately investigated,” he added.
The Minister also thanked all doctors from public and private sectors, for responding to the call of the Prime Minister and making this remarkable milestone possible. He also urged all the doctors to continue their commitment, ‘IPledgefor9’ and boost the chance of further reducing maternal and infant mortality in the country.
In the July 31, 2016 episode of Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister had urged private sector doctors to dedicate 12 days in a year to this programme and provide voluntary services under PMSMA on the 9th of every month. 
There are more than 12,800 government health facilities across states/ UTs where PMSMA sessions are conducted on the 9th of every month and pregnant women receive fixed-day assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care in their second and third trimesters.
“India is committed to reducing preventable maternal deaths through concerted efforts and public-private partnership. The PMSMA has reached one crore mark with the commitment from doctors in the government sector across states/ UTs and with the help of the large number of private sector doctors who have voluntarily pledged for this initiative,” Mr Nadda stated. UNI