New maternal health, family planning services to launch at Aam Aadmi Clinics

A one-day district-level workshop was held on Sunday in Kapurthala to train doctors working at Aam Aadmi Clinics across the district. Organised under the leadership of Dr Jaswinder Kaur, Director, Family Welfare, Punjab, the workshop focused on expanding the services at these clinics to include antenatal care for pregnant women and family planning services, set to begin on June 23.

Dr Jaswinder Kaur, addressing the workshop, stated that the primary goal of introducing these services is to provide accessible and comprehensive maternal healthcare and family planning options closer to patients’ homes.

She emphasised that the Department of Health is committed to enhancing community health services, and similar workshops are being conducted across Punjab to train doctors at Aam Aadmi Clinics.

Civil Surgeon Kapurthala, Dr Harpal Singh, highlighted the importance of timely blood tests for pregnant women visiting Aam Aadmi Clinics, stressing that undiagnosed iron deficiency can lead to complications during delivery. He welcomed the government’s initiative and emphasised the need for thorough patient counselling and accurate medical history intake.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Navneet Kaur Bal, urged doctors to ensure the full utilisation of the new maternal care and family planning services at Aam Aadmi Clinics.

Dr Ravjeet Singh, District Family Welfare Officer (MD, Medicine), outlined the medical services to be provided, including identifying high-risk pregnancies, blood tests, sugar tests, thyroid function tests, ultrasounds, and a complete range of family planning methods. He also advised that doctors personally monitor patients’ blood pressure.

Dr Singh noted that 15 private ultrasound scanning centres in the district have been empaneled to provide free ultrasound services to pregnant women referred by Aam Aadmi Clinics.

Dr Sandeep Bhola, DMC and Nodal Officer for Aam Aadmi Clinics, provided guidance on making online entries of pregnant women through the clinic portal and managing referrals to the empanelled ultrasound centres.

Gynecologist Dr Simmi Dhawan delivered a detailed presentation on both temporary and permanent family planning methods, management of high-risk pregnancies, and maternal care protocols.

M&E Officer Ram Singh also presented a slideshow on the state government’s maternal and family welfare initiative. The workshop attendees were shown a special video and audio message from Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh.

The event was attended by ACS Dr Annu Sharma, DHO Dr Rajeev Parashar, SMO Dr Parminder Kaur, DPM Vine Malhan and other senior health officials, along with doctors from various Aam Aadmi Clinics across the district.