Dr. Smriti V.’s Post

The infant mortality rate in India was 42.9% in 2011 and significantly reduced to 25.5% in 2021. Being aware of the high infant mortality rate, the Government of India launched the India Newborn Action Plan in 2014, to ensure that stillbirths and neonatal mortality rates are reduced to ‘single digit’ by 2030 and LaQshya, also introduced in the same year, provides quality healthcare for the labor ward and maternity operation theater at government hospitals. Other governmental initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Mission Indradhanush, were also introduced to cater to rural women and their newborns. Working in alignment with the government, #InfosysFoundation has always introduced initiatives to protect newborns and children, by providing technology driven solutions to improve maternal, neonatal, and child health outcomes, through Project Early Life. In addition, the Foundation built world class infrastructure with a 9300 sq.m. maternity block in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka. #InfosysCSR | #childcare | #maternalcare | #infantcare | #healthcare

Every mother and child deserve the best care during the prenatal and postnatal periods. While hospitals and clinics provide these critical services, some women opt for home births, which leads to higher child and maternal mortality rates and health risks. To address this issue and encourage women to opt for institutional births, India is making strides toward improving #maternalhealth, led by interventions under the National Health Mission. As lack of funds is the primary reason why women choose home deliveries, cash assistance is provided for delivery and post-delivery care through the Janani Suraksha Yojana. Additionally, the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram was introduced where deliveries are free. The Indian government is actively promoting institutional deliveries among those from underprivileged backgrounds. As a result, institutional deliveries have surged from 79% to 89% from the past six years, as per the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019-21). #InfosysFoundation is also committed to empowering mothers and newborns, by ensuring that quality care is accessible and affordable throughout the country. Our partnerships with C-CAMP and Sangath are positively impacting maternal care. From technological advancements to mental health support, we are ensuring every mother receives the care she deserves. We further aim to elevate #healthcare standards by reconstructing the Infant and Maternity Hospital in Karnataka. Together, we are building a healthier India, one mother and child at a time. #InfosysCSR

This week, Madhukar Kumar Bhagat (Joint Secretary in MoH, India) at the 21st Indo-US Economic Summit focused on the theme "Public-Private Partnerships" stressing that PPPs should prioritize the availability, affordability, and access to quality healthcare. In Assam, Nivi, Inc.'s work with the Population Council, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, Guwahati Obstetric & Gynaecological Society, CEntre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES) under the Strengthening Systems for Safer Childbirth (S3C) initiative by MSD for Mothers is focussed on precisely that! Highlights from the e-SAATHI engagement in Assam - 1️⃣ Availability: The Maternal Health journey on #askNivi can now be accessed via 170+ public and private facilities. Through online and offline campaigns, it has engaged over 19,500 pregnant and 4,800 postpartum women to raise awareness about caring for themselves during pregnancy and their children's health after birth. ~16710+ women onboarded the askNivi chatbot to get weekly updates. 2️⃣ Access to Quality Healthcare: askNivi periodically reminds subscribers of the MH journey for Antenatal and Postnatal Care visits, following up with messages to gather feedback on their visits. This collects valuable data points to determine the Quality of Care women receive at these facilities. We work with facilities to improve aspects where the feedback isn't favorable to ensure Respectful Maternal Care for all mothers. ~9300 ANC visits reminded and ~8500 visits facilitated already. 3️⃣ Affordability: askNivi's referrals are always based upon the users' situation and context. Suppose our users highlight financial barriers to accessing care. In that case, we prioritize referrals to public facilities where they can receive care free of cost or at subsidized rates to ensure they receive the care they need, when they need it. ✅ Government endorsements for Nivi's work in Assam demonstrate the credibility and the ability to deliver impactful healthcare solutions in public health facilities, extending access to healthcare for all, especially underserved and remote communities. ✨ We have more exciting news coming very soon: we'll launch the Maternal Health Journey in another state in India with a pilot in 2 Public Health facilities. Stay tuned to catch the update! ✨ Sowmya Ramesh Pompy Sridhar Ashita Munjral Sanjana Jain Ragini Ahluwalia Siddhartha Goyal Ben Bellows Mark Allen Sriya Srikrishnan Namrata Goswami Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India ETHealthWorld https://lnkd.in/dKTzhyzh

In India, demand for paid long term care (LTC) is growing as modern life undermines the family’s traditional role in caring for the elderly and the population ages. India has yet to pass laws and develop regulations for LTC facilities. Is there an opportunity for collaboration between nursing home and assisted living industry leaders and government officials in the US, which is fine tuning its many regulations, and their counterparts in India? Staff training and development could be one area of mutual interest. Both countries face a shortage of LTC staff, which in the US are among the lowest paid workers.  For more on this, see: Center on Capital & Social Equity news blog at: www.inequalityink.org #India #nursinghomes #assistedliving #oldagehomes #USnursinghomeindustry #assistedlivingregulation #Nursinghomeregulation #industrycollaboration #consumerprotection #healthregulation #housingregulation #elderabuse https://lnkd.in/eiwtjMnH

#awarenessmatters #OnCloudnine While #maternalhealth in India has witnessed significant improvements, with a notable increase in the number of women accessing #antenatal #care, do we know, #regional #disparities still persist for accessing #healthcare especially #motherandchild care. Despite all the positive strides and government schemes, what is the state of women's healthcare in India ? Dr. R. Kishore Kumar, Founder Chairman & Neonatologist Cloudnine Group of Hospitals #bengaluru explains with BW HEALTHCARE WORLD. #WeKnowMoms #womenshealthmatters #awarenessmatters https://lnkd.in/g3UAajMp

Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is a way to measure the number of deaths per 100,000 live births from pregnancy-related complications. It is one of the key indicators of how well the healthcare delivery system is performing in geography. There are wide disparities in MMR across different states. Kerala, with an MMR of 19, boasts of performance even better than the US while a populous state like UP has an unacceptably high MMR, worse than Zambia in Africa. What is Kerala doing differently? Kerala’s success in achieving a low MMR can be attributed to several key factors: >A well-developed primary healthcare network ensures maternal services are accessible at every level, from rural areas to urban centers. > High female literacy and social awareness create an environment where women seek and receive care early in their pregnancies, leading to better maternal and neonatal outcomes. > Comprehensive training and support for healthcare workers, particularly at the community level, enables prompt interventions during pregnancies and childbirth. India’s journey to reduce MMR will depend on the ability to tailor these interventions to the unique challenges of each region. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India World Health Organization UNICEF Jhpiego Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India - FOGSI STILLBIRTH SOCIETY OF INDIA #BetterBirthStudy #Healthcare #Consulting #MaternalHealth #MMR #PublicHealth #Kerala

TibaSalama Digital Health App is dedicated to transforming healthcare delivery in Tanzania by addressing three main pillars: improving access to healthcare, enhancing maternal health services, and streamlining referral processes.   First and foremost, our app aims to bridge the gap in accessing healthcare by providing a convenient platform for individuals to communicate with healthcare providers, schedule appointments, and receive medical advice remotely. Through innovative features and a user-friendly interface, we ensure that healthcare services are easily accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or economic status.   Secondly, we are committed to enhancing maternal health services by providing comprehensive resources and support for expectant mothers. From tracking pregnancy progress to accessing prenatal care information and educational resources, TibaSalama empowers women to make informed decisions about their health and the health of their babies, ultimately reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.   Finally, our app streamlines the referral process, making it more efficient and effective. By digitizing medical records, facilitating communication between healthcare providers, and providing real-time updates on patient progress, we ensure smooth transitions between different levels of care, leading to improved health outcomes for patients.   In summary, TibaSalama Digital Health App is ready to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Tanzania by improving access to healthcare, enhancing maternal health services, and streamlining referral processes, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being of the community. In line with this, Community Health Workers (CHWs) can play a vital role in achieving these goals by assisting in advocacy, providing community health education, and helping patients use and understand how to use the application.   We welcome various stakeholders with aligned goals to support our efforts to ensure that we fulfill our important company goals as a company. www.tibasalama.com / info.tibasalama@gmail.com    

In India, three percent of women age 15-49 have had a hysterectomy, 8.7% of who belong to Andhra Pradesh**. To tackle this, Bayer is partnering with the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh to launch ‘Preserve the Uterus’ (PTU) initiative in the state. PTU is a nationwide initiative that was launched in April 2022 by Bayer in India in collaboration with Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India - FOGSI and IHW Council. It aims to raise awareness and support capacity building amongst healthcare practitioners about alternative methods to manage uterine conditions that cause heavy menstrual bleeding so that a hysterectomy becomes the very last option to treat such conditions. By educating the medical community about this massive problem faced by a majority of young women, we’re inching closer towards our mission of “Health for All, Hunger for None”. **According to the National Family Health Survey-V (2019–2021) #PreserveTheUterus #healthforall #Bayer #Gynaecology #BayerInitiative #AndhraPradesh

*NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD DAY* *APRIL 11* *THEME - 'ACCESS IN CRISIS'* *India observes NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD DAY on April 11 each year to promote Maternal Health and Reduce Maternal Mortality rates in the Country. The Indian Government declared KASTURBA GANDHI'S BIRTHDAY, April 11, as National Safe Motherhood Day.* *India is among the world's most dangerous countries to give birth, representing 15% of all maternal deaths globally. In India, 44,000 women die each year as a result of poor prenatal care, almost 850 deaths per day according to WHO. To combat this Govt Of India introduced various schemes include Janani Suraksha Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Muthulakshmi Maternity Benefit Scheme, and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram.* *This day also focuses on reducing ANAEMIA among WOMEN, Institutional Delivery, Better Pre and Post-Natal health care etc, which are necessary for Mothers.* *India became the first country to announced and declared a National Safe Motherhood Day.*

Nirbhaya, the Delhi gang rape that took place in 2012 had brought about changes to the rape laws in India in response to country wide protests and the depositions to the Justice Verma Committee. Rapes and sexual assaults on women have not reduced but the laws have brought in conversations on women's right to say yes or no to sex or to all other aspects of their lives. Women reporting has increased though all implementing agencies, police, judiciary and health systems, are lagging behind in responding as per the changed laws. 12 years down the line the Kolkata rape and murder case has to lead to laws on safety and protection of all hospital and frontline health personnel, particularly women staff. All women who work in night shifts as nurses, call centre workers, police personnel, IT and media professionals, from the retail and hospitality, and engaged in sex work, should be able to carry out their work and navigate public spaces safely. Apart from robust laws we have to work on change in mindsets.