By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 14: To enhance maternal and child healthcare in the Garo Hills region, the government has stepped up its efforts to address concerns surrounding institutional deliveries.
Authorities have been actively working to change perceptions and dispel traditional beliefs that discourage expectant mothers from seeking medical care during childbirth. Through awareness drives and direct community interaction, the initiative aims to ensure safer deliveries, reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, and encourage trust in modern healthcare facilities.
Cabinet Minister and MDA Spokesperson Marcuise N Marak highlighted the challenges of the medical teams in persuading families to embrace hospital-based deliveries and newborn vaccinations.
Marak recalled the initial resistance encountered by healthcare workers.
“Doctors were finding it difficult to engage with the villagers. Whenever they visited, doors would be shut, and people refused to interact. Seeing this, I decided to step in personally, along with the deputy commissioner and the BDO. We explained the benefits, addressed their fears, and gradually gained their confidence. Now, they have agreed to vaccinate their newborns and assured us that they will opt for institutional deliveries. This marks a crucial breakthrough,” he stated.
Besides childbirth-related concerns, another pressing issue raised during the program was the reluctance to enrol in the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS).
Marak noted that many villagers were unaware of the scheme’s advantages. “A lot of people were hesitant about MHIS registration. We used this platform to educate them on how it could benefit them and their families,” he added.
When questioned about whether similar hesitancies existed in other villages under the Samanda Development Block, Marak clarified that most had already adopted institutional deliveries, except for the one where the intervention occurred.
On the effectiveness of government health initiatives like the ‘Mother App,’ Marak acknowledged that awareness was not the primary issue.
“People have heard about the Mother App and the transit homes introduced by the chief minister at hospitals and CHCs. However, deep-rooted traditional practices continue to influence their choices. Over time, with continued awareness and medical engagement, we are witnessing a shift,” he explained.
The resistance to institutional deliveries, he pointed out, stemmed from longstanding cultural customs. “They have always relied on traditional methods and specific individuals within their community to assist during childbirth.
However, once doctors detailed the risks of home deliveries and the medical facilities available at hospitals, they started reconsidering. Reverend Jimmy Carter, a church leader, also played a key role in reassuring them from a religious perspective. This collective effort has significantly changed their outlook,” he added.
Discussing the state of healthcare infrastructure in the region, Marak acknowledged progress while stressing the need for further enhancements.
“We have seen major improvements. The Civil Hospital in Williamnagar has been upgraded, and a Critical Care Unit (CCU) has recently been sanctioned. The Health Minister has already laid the foundation stone, and construction is underway,” he informed.