Voluntary organisation 'SAHAYOG’ held the National Safe Motherhood Day at the Angarpada Health and Wellness Center. In the beginning, former Sarpanch of Angarpada Gram panchayat and ASHA, Sukanti Behera, extended a warm welcome to all attendees.
SAHAYOG secretary Bijayalaxmi Rautaray elucidated the purpose of commemorating the day with expectant and nursing mothers and emphasized SAHAYOG's commitment to maternal and child health, patient-centered TB care and prevention, gender equality, and child development initiatives.
The event featured Health Worker Samamitra Panda elucidating the six fundamental steps of safe motherhood, with a particular focus on addressing anaemia and its implications on women's health due to low haemoglobin levels. Community Health Officer Madhusmita Kanungo underscored the paramount importance of family support, particularly spousal involvement, in promoting safe motherhood. A questionnaire session probed expectant mothers on promptly notifying ASHA workers or healthcare facilities about concerning risk symptoms. Testimonials from women who received adequate care were shared, along with accounts of neglect experienced by some during nocturnal or festive time hospital visits.
Discussions encompassed topics such as the avoidance of unnecessary C-sections, dietary practices, and breastfeeding for the holistic development of infants. Participants were educated on their entitlements to healthcare services and were encouraged to adhere to guidelines and recommendations. Notably, the challenges faced by the predominantly tribal residents of Angarpada Panchayat, including transportation difficulties to distant healthcare facilities, were highlighted. Suggested solutions included the establishment of a delivery point and the appointment of a female health worker at the Angarpada Health and Wellness Center to facilitate safe motherhood objectives. To underscore the importance of safe maternal healthcare as a women’s right, "Safe Maternal Health Care - Our Right" posters were unveiled.
