Efforts to prevent maternal mortality successful

Salem: 25th August 2011

Tamil Nadu's health care initiative of using NASG (Non Pneumatic Anti Shock Garments) also called life wraps, to reduce Post-Partum Haemorrhage (PPH) deaths – 22 per cent of deaths among mothers of newborns – has started showing some positive results. The initiative aims to bring down MMR below 30 and was introduced in ten districts including Salem about two years ago. According to health experts, after introduction of NASG, maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Salem district is showing a downward trend. “Of 55,000 live births recorded last year in Salem district, 50 to 55 mothers had died and 15 to 20 of them due to PPH, which is preventable. In Salem district it is 0.85 per cent MMR per 1,000 live births during last year. We hope to have a reduced mortality of at least by one-third this year,” a senior doctor in Government Hospital says.

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