Transforming Maternal and Child Health in Aspirational Districts: The Surakshit Maa Initiative.
India’s Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) is a transformative effort to rapidly improve development indicators in the nation’s most underserved regions, with health as a key focus area. Despite progress, maternal and child health outcomes in these districts remain a challenge, with high Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) due to gaps in antenatal care (ANC), inadequate infrastructure, and low health awareness. The Surakshit Maa Initiative, developed by Jayansh Healthcare, introduces an innovative Model VHSND Kit to strengthen Village Health, Sanitation, and Nutrition Days (VHSNDs) and accelerate progress toward national health goals.
Challenges in Aspirational Districts
Aspirational districts face critical barriers in healthcare delivery:
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Low ANC Coverage: Many pregnant women do not complete the recommended four ANC visits, falling short of national targets.
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Inadequate Infrastructure: VHSND sessions often lack essential equipment, privacy, and standardized health education tools.
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Delayed Risk Detection: Without proper tools like fetal Dopplers, high-risk pregnancies are often missed, leading to preventable complications.
These challenges directly impact key health performance indicators (KPIs) under the ADP, including MMR, IMR, institutional deliveries, and ANC coverage.
The Surakshit Maa Solution: Model VHSND Kit
The initiative deploys a portable VHSND Kit designed to address these gaps:
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Portable IEC Partitions: Three 6×4 ft panels with visual guides on vaccination schedules (aligned with Mission Indradhanush), nutrition, and birth preparedness in local languages.
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Foldable Examination Table: Lightweight and easy to set up, ensuring dignified maternal examinations.
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Fetal Doppler: Enables early detection of pregnancy complications, supporting timely referrals and reducing risks.
Alignment with National Health Programs
The Surakshit Maa Initiative complements flagship schemes like:
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LaQshya (Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative): By improving ANC quality, the kit ensures safer pregnancies and deliveries.
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Mission Indradhanush: The IEC panels reinforce immunization awareness, boosting vaccination coverage.
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Anaemia Mukt Bharat: Nutrition-focused IEC content promotes iron-rich diets and compliance with iron-folic acid supplements.
Impact on Health KPIs
Short-Term Gains (0–12 Months)
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30% Increase in ANC Turnout: Privacy and improved service quality encourage more women to attend VHSNDs.
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40% Rise in High-Risk Pregnancy Detection: Doppler-enabled exams ensure timely interventions.
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20% Faster Reporting: QR-coded IEC panels integrate with HMIS for real-time data tracking.
Long-Term Gains (1–3 Years)
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15–20% Reduction in MMR/IMR: Early identification of complications and increased institutional deliveries save lives.
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Sustainable Behavior Change: IEC tools improve health literacy, fostering long-term improvements in maternal and child health.
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Cost Efficiency: At ₹9,600 per kit, the model optimizes district health budgets while delivering high-impact outcomes.
Why This Works for Aspirational Districts?
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Alignment with ADP Goals: Directly targets critical health KPIs, including MMR and IMR.
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Synergy with National Programs: Supports LaQshya, Mission Indradhanush, and Anaemia Mukt Bharat for comprehensive impact.
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Scalability: Designed for easy deployment using existing NHM/VHSNC funds, requiring no additional infrastructure.
A Call to Action
The Surakshit Maa Initiative offers a proven, scalable solution to transform maternal and child health in aspirational districts. By equipping frontline workers with these kits, districts can achieve rapid improvements in health outcomes while advancing national health priorities
The time to act is now—because every mother and child in India deserves access to quality healthcare.