Hoshiarpur: A monthly meeting of the Maternal Death Review (MDR) committee was held at the Civil Surgeon's office under the chairmanship of Civil Surgeon Hoshiarpur, Dr. Mandeep Kamal. During the meeting, a maternal death case was reviewed in detail. Analyzing all the facts and reasons related to the case, necessary suggestions and instructions were issued to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Dr. Mandeep Kamal stated that the main objective of the MDR committee is to bring continuous improvement in health services by learning from every maternal death. The meeting was attended by District Family Welfare Officer Dr. Ranjeet Singh, gynecologists, Block Medical Officers, Medical Officers, staff nurses, LHVs, ANMs, and other related paramedical staff.
During the meeting, the maternal health services available in the district were reviewed, and an effective strategy was prepared for prevention by analyzing the causes of maternal deaths. Dr. Mandeep Kamal said that reducing the maternal mortality rate is among the top priorities of the Health Department, and all health workers need to work with a team spirit for this.
He instructed that the registration of every pregnant woman must be ensured in the early stages of pregnancy, and all necessary check-ups during the first, second, and third trimesters should be done on time. Pregnant women should be provided with a balanced and nutritious diet, iron-folic acid tablets, and other necessary health services so that problems like anemia can be prevented.
The Civil Surgeon said that anemia is one of the major causes of maternal death. Therefore, identifying and treating blood deficiency by checking the hemoglobin level of every pregnant woman should be prioritized. He instructed ASHA workers and ANMs to regularly contact pregnant women by visiting their homes and encourage them to get regular health check-ups.
Dr. Mandeep Kamal emphasized the timely identification of high-risk pregnant women and connecting them with high-level health institutions. He mentioned that special monitoring should be done for pregnant women suffering from high blood pressure, severe anemia, complications during pre-delivery, or other serious illnesses.
In the meeting, special discussion was also held on maternal deaths caused by excessive bleeding after delivery (Post Partum Hemorrhage - PPH). The Civil Surgeon stated that prompt and effective treatment in case of excessive post-delivery bleeding plays a crucial role in saving lives. For this, the availability of necessary medicines, blood, trained staff, and emergency management arrangements should be ensured at every delivery point at all times.
Emphasizing the need to further strengthen the referral system, he said that any serious patient should be referred to a higher health institution without delay so that appropriate treatment can be provided on time.