Health camp in Raichur tomorrow to boost maternal safety

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Raichur will host a health camp for pregnant women on 22 January as part of the state’s ongoing Maternal Safety Campaign. The event, to be held at the Mother and Child Hospital, will be inaugurated by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. This initiative underscores the Health Department's commitment to enhancing maternal safety across the state. The Health Department has launched a large-scale initiative to provide regular health check-ups for pregnant women, offering free services twice a month on the 9th and 24th.

These check-ups will be held at all Mother and Child Hospitals statewide, ensuring pregnant women have access to essential healthcare services. Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao emphasised that these camps are crucial to the state’s efforts in delivering quality health services to mothers. To promote maternal safety and ensure comprehensive care, the Health Department has outlined several key actions. These include providing quality maternal healthcare services, ensuring early Antenatal Care (ANC) registration, and facilitating regular ANC visits. Additionally, the department has planned one PMSMA visit for general pregnancies, with extra visits for high-risk cases.

Pregnant women will also have pre-arranged delivery plans to ensure proper care during labour. Significant measures include the provision of folic acid supplements in the first trimester and calcium from the 14th week of pregnancy through to post-delivery. Blood pressure and weight will be monitored during each check-up, and mandatory glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) will be conducted to check for gestational diabetes. The department will also educate pregnant women and their families about warning signs and provide guidance on nutrition, rest, and emergency response. In addition, the Health Department will continue conducting regular Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND), ensuring families are educated on the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy.

Emergency response training will also guide women on where to seek help in case of complications. To further support maternal health, all government hospitals and medical colleges will offer free medical check-ups, delivery services, laboratory tests, and transportation for pregnant women, regardless of their socio-economic status. This comprehensive initiative underscores the state’s dedication to ensuring the health and safety of both mothers and babies, from routine check-ups to emergency care.