Maternal death rate rose to 150 during pandemic

Chandigarh, November 18

Thanks to all the healthcare services diverted to Covid, Punjab is now witnessing reversal of all achievements made on maternal mortality rate (MMR). The Health Department’s internal analysis of first six months of the current fiscal (April-Sept) reveals the MMR in first six months was around 150 (death of mothers after 1 lakh live births), against last year’s 129.

In the first six months, there were 357 maternal deaths against 1.82 lakh live births. According to officials, the current increase in the MMR is due to Covid. “Firstly, all the healthcare services were diverted towards Covid care. Secondly, the mortality due to Covid among pregnant women was also high,” said Dr Inderdeep Kaur, state’s programme office for mother and child health. This year, 75 pregnant women who died were Covid-positive. Fatehgarh Sahib is the worst-affected with MMR increasing to 413 and SAS Nagar the best with just 83 MMR. Analysis reveals 2017-18 was the worst year when the MMR was 159. Dr OP Gojra, Director, Family Welfare, said a campaign had been started to sensitise the worst-affected districts and the required measures had been taken. — TNS