SHILLONG, March 8: Expressing concern over the alarming rate of maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has informed that the state government has directed health workers and ASHA workers to identify high-risk mothers and give them special attention.
Speaking to the media persons here on Monday, the chief minister informed that the state government, through its programme Meghalaya’s Outcome Oriented Transformation in Health, Nutrition, Education and Rural Development (MOTHER), will be able to discern the mothers who are at high risk, and bring down the mortality rate among mothers and infants.
Informing that the state government is focusing on high-risk mothers, the chief minister said that there are many factors involved in the high mortality rate among mothers and infants across the state.
“It starts from the point a mother conceives, how many times the mother has conceived, the gap between the birth of children and so many factors. One cannot expect that it will transform at one go,” he said.
“Steps are being taken to reduce maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate. This is going to be the most important aspect and we will lay great importance on this,” the chief minister informed.