Karnataka prepares district plans to prevent maternal deaths

Karnataka’s Health Department has prepared a set of measures aimed at eliminating preventable maternal deaths, including district-specific interventions, closer monitoring of high-risk pregnancies and greater participation by local communities. Health Minister U.T. Khader said the government’s immediate objective was to bring the State’s maternal mortality ratio below 70 per one lakh live births.

The latest Sample Registration System estimate for 2022–24 puts Karnataka’s ratio at 73. Speaking at a State-level workshop on the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 in Bengaluru, Mr. Khader said the programme would cover care from the preconception stage through pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period.

Planned measures include better antenatal care, quality delivery services and preparedness for postpartum haemorrhage and other obstetric emergencies. The State will also strengthen its Maternal Death Surveillance and Response system and introduce digital monitoring and accountability, the Minister said. District-level teams will identify the local causes of maternal deaths and take corrective action because those causes vary across districts.

Officials will track high-risk pregnancies continuously. Women identified as being at higher risk could stay at health facilities for about a week before their expected delivery date, depending on their clinical needs, Mr. Khader said.

The government plans to involve gram panchayats through awareness campaigns and recognise local bodies that achieve “zero maternal deaths” at the State level. A dedicated State unit for maternal-death prevention, headed by a designated officer, is also planned. Mr.

Khader said government hospitals handled around 60% of deliveries in Karnataka. He also announced plans for a Women’s Health Policy and a dedicated Deputy Director for women’s health, saying the policy would address changing needs including lifestyle-related and hormonal health concerns.