National Safe Motherhood Day

NSMD is observed on 11 April every year to create awareness about maternity facilities,

lactating women, and also for proper health care given to women.

In 2003, At the request of WRAI ( White Ribbon Alliance India), an alliance of 1,800 organisations –the government of India had declared April 11, the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, as National Safe Motherhood Day.

The theme of this year’s celebrations of Safe Motherhood Day is ‘Stay at home during coronavirus, keep mother and newborn safe from coronavirus’. 

“The goal of these annual campaigns is to increase awareness that every woman has a right to live and survive pregnancy and childbirth.

”India accounts for 15 per cent of total maternal deaths worldwide.Every year 44,000 women die in India due to improper care during the pregnancy.

Safe motherhood means ensuring that a mother is getting proper care during her pregnancy period. They need to be safe and healthy during pregnancy and childbirth. 

In India, the number of women who received all four antenatal check-ups during the pandemic 

dropped by 51 per cent and the number of institutional deliveries were down by 79 per cent.

The demand for family planning services satisfied by modern methods fell by 67 per cent.

The day also calls for the prevention of child marriages because it may be an indirect cause of maternal deaths, as per WRA.Approximately 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, as per WHO.

Many mothers face problems of nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and unusual cravings. All of these may affect the nutrition of the mother.

Most of these can be tackled with time and doctor’s prescription.

Knowledge about the right food is essential for the mother and her family members.