Shortage of auxiliary nurse midwives cripples maternal health services in dist

The Health Department is facing a severe shortage of auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), a crisis that is straining maternal and child healthcare services across the district. Of the 336 sanctioned posts, 136 remain vacant, leaving existing staff overburdened.

ANMs are appointed by the Health Department and also under the National Health Mission. In Ludhiana (urban), 26 posts are vacant, followed by 18 in Sudhar, 17 in Manupur, 14 in Sahnewal, 13 in Maachiwara and 12 in Koom Kalan.

Other blocks have also reported vacancies, ranging between one to nine posts each. At present, only around 60 ANMs are posted across various urban primary health centres (UPHCs) in the district.

Despite the city’s population swelling to nearly 20 lakh, staffing norms have remained unchanged. Ideally, there should be one ANM for every 5,000 people. But currently, each ANM is catering to a population of 50,000 to 60,000.

ANMs are the backbone of grassroots healthcare delivery, especially for women and children. Their responsibilities include registering pregnant women, conducting regular follow-ups, providing antenatal care, running immunisation drives and maintaining birth and death records.

The department must revise its deployment strategy. The population dynamics have changed, and appointments must reflect that. ANMs play an important role in maternal health and more appointments would mean a reduction in maternal mortality rate, said Dr Amanpreet Kaur, Health and Family Welfare Officer.

There is an urgent need for adequate ANMs in peripheral urban areas, especially those inhabited by migratory labour populations. “These communities need targeted education on prenatal health, antenatal care and early identification of complications,” said a gynaecologist.

“We are the first point of contact for many women. Our presence ensures timely care and guidance,” said an ANM posted in Ludhiana urban. The shortage is not just a staffing issue—it’s a public health concern. A senior Health Department official questioned how the state could expect to curb the rising maternal mortality rate when districts were struggling to fill ANM posts. As Ludhiana’s population continues to grow, the urgent need for more ANMs becomes not just a logistical necessity but a moral imperative to safeguard maternal and child health.