Gujarat: Stanford roped in to reduce maternal, infant mortality

AHMEDABAD: In 2016, Gujarat had a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 91 and an infant mortality rate (IMR) of 3,000 per one lakh live births according to NITI Aayog data. While the state has improved upon its previous scores, it still ranks among the worst 15 states in the country with high MMR-IMR numbers.
To remedy the situation, the government of Gujarat has roped in experts from Stanford University to identify issues and create a standard operating procedure (SOP) for stakeholders. A team led by Dr S V Mahadevan, professor of emergency medicine at Stanford University Medical Centre, is visiting community health centres (CHCs) and health facilities in the state to understand the the health delivery system and listen to the experiences of doctors, nurses, midwives and administrators.
Dr Mahadevan said that different aspects of the health delivery system factor in reducing MMR-IMR including emergency healthcare, education, preparedness, availability of equipment and government intervention. The tripartite collaboration between Stanford University, GVK EMRI and the government of Gujarat is likely to have one or two years of duration.
“We are focusing on three main approaches: Developing robust system of communication and reducing time of screening for definitive care; ensuring adequate education - both didactic and experiential - so that stakeholders can take better decisions during the golden hour, and streamlining the process by understanding interventions and empower care-givers,” said Dr Mahadevan.
State health commissioner Jayanti Ravi, said, “We are focusing on bringing down the MMR to less than 50 in a year. Primary data reveals that the MMR has come down to 75 from 91. We have taken several measures and also tied up the university to cut maternal and infant mortality rates.”