The Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare recently took part in the ‘Accountability Breakfast’, an annual event organized by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH). This event aims to tackle issues concerning maternal and child health. The occasion was co-ordinated by the White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) and Every Woman Every Child (EWEC). The focus of the event was on safeguarding advancements made in Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health amid the Covid pandemic.
About PMNCH
Established in 2005, PMNCH is a global health association based in Geneva, Switzerland, under the auspices of the World Health Organization. This partnership brings together different communities in the sectors of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) in a unified alliance. The Accountability Breakfast is intended to transform discourse into concrete actions to promote the health and rights of women, children, and adolescents.
The White Ribbon Alliance
The WRA is an impartial, non-profit, and non-governmental membership organization that aims to decrease global maternal and newborn death rates. It was founded in 1999 and expanded into India that same year under the name WRA India. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C., USA.
The ‘Every Woman Every Child’ (EWEC) Movement
This movement was inaugurated by the United Nations during the September 2010 United Nations Millennium Development Goals Summit. EWEC is a unique global initiative that mobilizes and heightens international and national action from governments, private sectors, and civil societies to address significant health challenges faced by women, children, and adolescents worldwide.
Key Initiatives by the Indian Government during the Covid-19 Pandemic
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has provided guidance to states at a national level, ensuring access to healthcare services for women, children and adolescents during the Covid pandemic. Furthermore, the government has included Covid in the range of medical conditions covered under the government-provided Ayushman Bharat – PM JAY insurance package. This policy also aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on essential services such as Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), launched in 2013.
Government Initiatives related to Maternal and Child Health
Numerous initiatives have aimed to address maternal and child health. These include LaQshya program, Safe Motherhood Assurance (SUMAN) initiative, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Mission Indradhanush, Poshan Abhiyan, and Mother and Child Protection Card. These programs target reducing mortality, morbidity and stillbirths as well as ensure respectful maternity care.
Importance of Reproductive Rights
Recognizing a woman’s choice during maternal care is crucial. Maternity care extends beyond healthcare services and encompasses elements like dignity, privacy, confidentiality, choice, and respect for both the mother and the baby.
India’s Zero-tolerance Approach
India stands firmly against service denial to pregnant women and their newborn babies. This zero-tolerance policy seeks to ensure that all women and babies have access to essential health services.
Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act
The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, or PCPNDT Act, was enacted in 1994 and amended in 2003. The primary goal of this act is to prohibit sex selection techniques before or after conception, preventing misuse of prenatal diagnostic techniques for sex-selective abortion.
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
The MTP Act permits termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks. However, if a woman wishes to terminate an unwanted pregnancy beyond 20 weeks, she must seek permission from a medical board and courts—an often difficult and complicated process. A new bill to modify the MTP Act is currently under parliamentary consideration.
Way Forward
An entirely responsive and accountable health system should be the goal. This would not only promote a positive birthing experience but also put an end to preventable maternal and newborn deaths. Strengthening the system for client feedback, grievance redressal, accountability, and transparency is crucial in this endeavor.
