Amid rising MMR in Punjab, Health Dept faces auxiliary nurse shortage

Amid Punjab’s struggle with high maternal mortality ratio (MMR), the vacant posts of auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) has made the going tough for the Health Department. ANMs are community-level women health worker who are the first contact persons between the community and health services. They are regarded as grassroot workers in the health organisation pyramid and can prove an important link in controlling high MMR.

The current maternal mortality ratio of Punjab as per the last National Family Health Survey is 105 as compared to the national average of 97. According to official sources, MMR of Punjab in June was 113 and in July, it further rose to 138. Weekly review meetings are being done to monitor MMR in the state.

Due to shortage of ANMs, many centres across the state are working without them. According to official sources, there are approximately 3,960 posts of ANM in the state and then, there are some posts under the National Health Mission as well. Nearly 50 per cent of the posts are lying vacant in the state at present.

In Ludhiana district, there are 336 sanctioned posts out of which 136 are lying vacant. In Ludhiana Urban, 26 posts are lying vacant, in Sudhar 18, in Manupur 17, in Koomkalan 12, in Maachiwara 13, in Sanhewal 14 posts are lying vacant. Other blocks in Ludhiana also have vacant posts each ranging between 1 and 9.

Ideally, there should be one ANM for a population of 5,000 but presently, one ANM is looking after the population of 50,000-60,000.

Telling about their role, an ANM from Ludhiana urban area said, “ANMs play a vital role in maternal and child care services. We register pregnant women, conducts regular follow-ups, antenatal care, immunisation programmes and also maintain birth and death record.”

A senior official from the Health Department wondered how can the state expect to control the rising MMR when there is a shortage of ANMs. Every district is struggling due to vacant posts of ANM, severely affecting the implementation of various health programmes including the care of pregnant women. The number of institutional deliveries has also witnessed a dip due to the shortage of ANMs.

Director Health Services, Dr Hitinder Kaur, said that the department is in the process of recruiting 986 regular ANMs in the state which would help in the smooth functioning of various health programmes and also maternal care.