Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 30: The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) was launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. The program aims to provide assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care, free of cost, universally to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month. The programme follows a systematic approach for engagement with private sector, which includes motivating private practitioners to volunteer to provide antenatal care check-up including ultrasonography for pregnant women.

The PMSMA has been implemented in A&N Islands since 9th September, 2016. On 9th day of every month, all essential maternal health services are provided at identified public and private health facilities. The PMSMA is aimed at reaching out to all pregnant women who are in 2nd & 3rd trimester of pregnancy. PMSMA will help in providing quality Antenatal Care including complete set of investigations like such as HB, Urine Albumin, VDRL, OGTT and ultrasound for each pregnant woman. This would help in timely detection, referral, treatment and follow-up of high-risk pregnancies.

Since inception, 29519 pregnant women have been screened under PMSMA, 307 consultations and Ultrasonography were provided by private practitioners.

In A&N Islands, 10 private Doctors have pledged to provide voluntary service under PMSMA from 9th March, 2023. At present, 3 private hospitals are providing their services free of cost under this initiative.

In this regard, an award function was held in the Conference Hall of DHS, wherein, 3 Private Institutions namely Arun Hospital, Dollygunj, Swasthya Medical Centre, Bhathu Basti and Chennai Sri Balaji Scan Centre, Phoenix Bay were awarded with Certificates of Appreciation by Special Secretary (Health)/Mission Director (UTHM) in the presence of Director of Health Services, Director of ANIIMS, Medical Superintendent, GBPH and Senior Doctors of Directorate of Health Services.