Punjab launches statewide tech interventions like NASG and UBT to reduce maternal mortality, says Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh announced the statewide expansion of proven technology-based interventions at government health facilities to lower the state’s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), marking a significant step to support women’s healthcare in line with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s commitment.
Speaking at a state-level workshop on “Tech Interventions for Maternal Mortality Reduction” hosted by Mission Tandrust Punjab with funding from the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, the health minister declared that the state would implement all technological solutions that have been shown to be effective in reducing maternal deaths, especially those brought on by postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The MMR for Punjab is currently 95 per lakh live births, which is higher than the national average of 88.
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Dr. Balbir Singh emphasized the need for collaboration between program officials and healthcare professionals, saying, “I urge all medical officers to adopt best clinical practices so that Punjab can achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing MMR to 70.” He also emphasized that early on, pregnant women’s health monitoring and nutritional advice should be given top priority.
The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) organized the workshop in Chandigarh in association with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, and AIIMS Bathinda. More than 300 mothers with critical PPH conditions were saved by the pilot implementation of Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garments (NASG) and Uterine Balloon Tamponade (UBT) at delivery points in 12 districts of Punjab in Phase I and II, according to Er Pritpal Singh, Executive Director (PSCST). This underscores the necessity of expanding these interventions throughout the state.
Dr. Aditi Salaria, Director of Health Services (Family Welfare) Punjab, emphasized prompt intervention, standardized referral procedures, and early detection of danger indications. She urged medical practitioners, particularly ANMs and gynecologists, to advance this campaign in a targeted way.
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Maternal complications were significantly reduced as a result of the project leaders, Dr. Lajya Devi Goyal, Dean of Research at AIIMS Bathinda, and Dr. Dapinder Kaur Bakshi, Joint Director (PSCST), exchanging ideas on district-level implementation, the availability of life-saving equipment at delivery points, and practical training for medical staff.
Dr. Parneet Kaur, a professor at GMC Patiala, and Dr. Parveen Rajora, a professor at GMC Faridkot, discussed their experiences in their respective districts with regard to clinical outcomes and field-level experiences during the session. Additionally, the specialists gave the health professionals at the Workshop practical instruction on NASG and UBT.
Other dignitaries include Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Assistant Director (DHF&W), and Dr. Jaswinder Singh, Civil Surgeon (Patiala). Physicians, gynecologists, nurses, and health officials from all 23 districts of Punjab participated in the training.