‘Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.
According to various studies done by experts in the past, India was once a nation known to be one of the most high-risk places to give birth as around 12% of the total maternal deaths worldwide were recorded in the country. However, the recent bulletin released by the Registrar General of India (published on 14 March 2022) on Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) showed a considerable level of improvement in India’s MMR. It has decreased from 113 in 2016-18 to 103 in 2017-19. Every year on 11 April, National Safe Motherhood Day is observed to promote awareness about the importance of having proper access to healthcare and related facilities throughout pregnancy, childbirth and later periods for women. The initiative was taken by the White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI). Later on, it was joined by about 1800 organisations in the year 2003. The Indian government finally declared 11 April as National Safe Motherhood Day which also marks the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, wife of the father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. The aim of celebrating this day is to provide adequate health access and all the facilities required for pregnancy-related issues including childbirth and postnatal services to expecting mothers. India was once known to be the world’s most dangerous country to give birth to as it contributed to 15% of the deaths globally due to various reasons including the inaccessibility of proper healthcare facilities for pregnant ladies. The deaths caused were mostly preventable but due to one or the other problems particularly the lack of availability of proper care and medical facilities these women could not survive. Most of the women suffered due to a lack of proper prevention and management techniques for the complications associated with pregnancy. The WHO records show that almost 830 women die on a daily basis from preventable complications of pregnancy as they are not given proper health care. The impoverished states are at a high risk of increasing the maternal mortality rate. The government of India is now trying to align its healthcare system with the SDGs to work towards the effort of lowering the country’s MMR. The aim is to lower it to 70 per 1 Lakh live births. The theme for this year is to focus on staying at home amid coronavirus and protecting mother and infant from the virus infection.
The Coronavirus Pandemic has already raised serious concerns about the health condition of pregnant women in the country. This is now called the ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’ which led to expanding the sphere of providing healthcare to pregnant women. Various arrangements for improving the quality of healthcare for expecting mothers have been a major aim. A
This includes providing high-quality care before, during and after childbirth associated with antenatal, newborn, postnatal and mental health care.

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