Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) will air its Safe Motherhood campaign this year through radio and television. In this connection the Society has produced a 13-episode documentary drama titled 'Jeevan Dor' (Life-Line), which focuses on maternal mortality. India's has a high maternal mortality rate of 308 per one lakh.

To begin with, programme is for people in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The 30-minute episodes features complications in pregnancy and childbirth, which is followed by a panel discussions with healthcare professionals and opinion leaders.

"The unique feature of the three-month initiative is that doctors are involved in producing the serial, aimed at reducing maternal mortality through education of mothers-to-be and their families, and highlighting importance of delivery at a hospital supervision by qualified medical practitioners" said Dr Pankaj Desai, president, FOGSI. "Since radio and television have the widest reach in rural India, we have chosen these media to reach the Indian woman in her home".

The programme is supported by AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd. as part of its ongoing efforts to promote Safe Motherhood. FOGSI and AstraZeneca have teamed-up for several initiatives to increase public awareness.

According to Anandh Balasundaram, managing director, AstraZeneca Pharma India, the company is committed towards combating maternal mortality and making Safe Motherhood a reality for Indian mothers. The company also has a range of maternal health care drugs in its portfolio.

Last year, the company supported FOGSI's 'Suprabha Ganga Yatra', a 2400-km walkathon with doctors walking 20 km daily along the Ganges, starting from Gangasagar to Gaumukh and Gangotri, to spread Safe Motherhood messages and practices. The objective behind the Yatra was to make rural women aware of the services that are available to them to make motherhood safer today.

Health camps were conducted for women, with a special focus on younger women, educating them about reproductive health, vaccinating young girls with Rubella vaccine in order to protect them against German measles during pregnancy, giving basic medicines, iron and calcium tablets.