With the latest incident of death of a pregnant woman in Mahabubnagar district hospital, it looks the many efforts of the Telangana health department to contain the maternal and infant mortality rates (MMR and IMR) in the state has failed to achieve the intended goals, despite spending crores of rupees for awareness and supply of nutritious food for the pregnant women.

Recently the state government had issued some guidelines to prevent mother and infant mortality rates in the state. Accordingly, it has started registering the number of pregnant women along with all the details like number of health checkups, number of injections, tablets and nutritious food being given etc. Despite all these, the MMR rate in the Mahabubnagar has seen a rise during the past one year.

According to social experts, it is not the case of Mahabubnagar only, all the 10 districts in Telangana have recorded deaths of pregnant women and infant children due to lack of awareness and preventative measures by the government officials. “It is absurd to claim by the government that it is taking all efforts to control the mother and infant mortality rate in the district. The latest incident of the death of pregnant woman speaks volumes of the government’s lackadaisical attitude,” observed Dr. Moses, a social activist working for the welfare of downtrodden in Mahabubnagar.

According to the latest reports, it is revealed that the district of Mahabubnagar, the most backward district in Telagnana has witnessed at least 3 maternal deaths every month during the past one year from 2015-2016.

During the past one year, there have been 40 maternal deaths recorded in Mahabubnagar.. The major reasons for these deaths are lack of nutritious food and proper care during pregnancy. “At the time of delivery, usually the pregnant women experience severe pain and anxiety. Weakness combined with lack of blood haemoglobin and anemia with varying blood pressures is the major cause of deaths during labour pains,” explained Dr Radha, gynaecology expert.

However, the state government is pouring in crores of rupees to health and women and child welfare departments to create healthcare awareness among the pregnant women to provide nutritious food through Anganwadi centres and primary healthcare centres in the state.

Both the state and central governments have been allocating crores of rupees for providing awareness and nutritious food to the pregnant women and children below 0-5 years to improve the MMR and IMR. For the year 2016-17, TS health department has allocated Rs.5,937 crore for improving healthcare facilities in hospitals and Rs.1,553 crore for the welfare of women and child welfare for providing nutritious food through Anganwadi centers. “Despite our efforts there are reports of death of pregnant women in the district. However we are taking all necessary steps and appointed Asha workers in the rural areas to monitor the situation,” informed Dr. Parvati, District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Mahabubnagar.