Event | National Safe Motherhood Day |
Date | April 11 every year in India |
Significance | Marks the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, emphasizing maternal healthcare. |
Initiated by | White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI) in 2003 |
Theme of 2025 | "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures" |
Key Objectives | Raise awareness, promote access to quality healthcare, prevent maternal mortality, combat malnutrition, empower women, advocate for skilled birth attendance. |
5 Pillars of Safe Motherhood | Family Planning, Prenatal Care, Professional Birth Attendance, Emergency Care, Postnatal Care. |
Challenges | Limited access to health facilities, shortage of skilled birth attendants, poverty, malnutrition, cultural barriers, low health awareness, lack of emergency care, postpartum neglect. |
Government Initiatives | Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), Poshan Abhiyaan, LaQshya Initiative, National Health Mission (NHM), Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS). |
Importance | Emphasizes maternal health as a national priority, encourages collaboration, promotes investment in women's health. |
The Road Ahead | Strengthening PHCs, quality assurance, mental health integration, community engagement, technology use, focus on adolescents, data-driven policies. |
Intersectional Factors | Caste & ethnicity, geographical disparities, low literacy levels, economic constraints, gender discrimination, climate change effects. |