PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that more than 80,000 pregnant women across the State have undergone pre-natal checkups at health camps organised under the “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar” campaign. He said that this initiative not only provides health check-ups for the general public but also offers prenatal health-related advice to pregnant women.
He added that according to Health department officials, a total of 80,515 pregnant women have received pre-natal check-ups at various health camps throughout the State. The breakdown by district is as follows: 2,195 in Almora, 1,131 in Bageshwar, 2,285 in Chamoli, 1,758 in Champawat, 15,728 in Dehradun, 14,472 in Haridwar, 7,853 in Nainital, 2,375 in Pauri, 2,067 in Pithoragarh, 1,936 in Rudraprayag, 4,650 in Tehri, 21,509 in Udham Singh Nagar and 2,556 in Uttarkashi.
At these health camps, women were screened for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, HIV and overall physical health. High-risk pregnancies were identified and affected women were advised to seek necessary medical consultations and sonography. Additional counselling was provided for women who had previously experienced a cesarean delivery, miscarriage, or stillbirth, as well as those who were underweight, underage, or suffering from severe anemia, high blood pressure, diabetes or other serious illnesses, he said.
Rawat said that during the campaign, doctors emphasised the importance of a balanced diet, regular medication and the consumption of green vegetables, milk, soybeans, fruits, chickpeas and jaggery. Iron and folic acid tablets were also distributed to anemic women. Rawat highlighted that the State government is committed to reducing maternal mortality rates. To achieve this goal, the Health department, alongside ANMs, ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers, is actively encouraging pregnant women to opt for institutional deliveries. Efforts are also being made at the Panchayat level to promote prenatal care. He said that antenatal care (ANC) check-ups are essential as they provide timely information about the health of the mother and child, helping to prevent risks during pregnancy.
