BMC records 199 maternal deaths from April-Dec 2011

The rising number of maternal deaths in the city has sent alarm bells ringing.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s family welfare department, it has reported 199 maternal deaths from April 2011 to December 2011. Ninety-five out of the 199 are from outside Mumbai.

“The reason for the rising number of maternal deaths is the absence of timely referral in case of complications during the pregnancy,” said Dr Asha Advani, special officer of BMC’s family welfare department.

“Earlier, maternal deaths were not reported. Deaths are being registered in Mumbai now because of awareness. Also, in most of the maternal death cases, patients had been transferred from areas such as Kalwa, Mumbra, Ulhasnagar and Badlapur.”

It is important to upgrade the health care system in these areas as patients are brought to the BMC hospitals when they are very serious, said officials.

The NGOs working for women and children welfare think otherwise.

“Lack of awareness among people and the government’s failure to provide facilities are to be blamed for maternal deaths. Even after women register at maternity centres, there are not enough medicines and the health care personnel do not behave well. This demotivates them and they are reluctant to go to hospitals,” said Dyaneshwar Tarwade, head of resources mobility and health of  Apanalaya NGO.

The NGO works  for women and child welfare in M-East ward covering the Govandi area.

“More than 40% of the deliveries still happens at home as there is no facility available nearby. There is only an urban health centre for 6 lakh population and that too it is an OPD and not a delivery centre,” said Tarwade.

Anaemia is the main reason for the increasing maternal deaths in the city. This was the finding of maternal death committee formed by the state government a year ago. Postpartum and antepartum haemorrhage, and infection are the other reasons behind maternal deaths.

“Anaemia has been found to be the major cause of these deaths. We are training doctors for better investigations and making sure that there is enough supply of iron supplements,” said Dr Advani.
In June-July 2011, there were 11 maternal deaths because of hepatitis-E. Forty-two maternal deaths were reported in that period.

Tarwade blames the deaths on people too. “Women’s health is still not a priority in lower-class families. They get married at an early age and get pregnant too. Most of these women are anaemic,” he said.