Shillong:Maternal deaths in Meghalaya have more than halved from 244 to 107 over the past five years, CM Conrad K Sangma said on Monday after inaugurating the extension of the District Maternity & Child Hospital in Tura, the headquarters of West Garo Hills district.The expansion adds a 50-bed wing, taking the hospital’s total capacity to 150 beds.Officials said the state has recorded a reduction of more than 55% in maternal mortality, over 40% in infant mortality and nearly 10 percentage points in stunting reduction over the past five years in Meghalaya.The expanded facility includes Garo Hills’ first public neonatal intensive care unit, a strengthened special newborn care unit, a dedicated oxygen plant and staff quarters for medical specialists.“This is an important step towards Mission 1,000 Days, investing in the health, nutrition and development of every child from pregnancy through the first two years of life,” the CM said at the inaugural event, under the theme ‘A Solemn Celebration of Maternal & Child Health’.The expansion is part of the state’s broader healthcare strategy, which includes the MOTHER (Measurable Outcomes in Transforming Health Sector through a Holistic Approach with a Focus on Women Empowerment) programme, Rescue Mission and the CM’s Safe Motherhood Scheme.Launched in 2019, the MOTHER project is a maternal and child health initiative under the Meghalaya State Health Policy. It aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality through digital tracking, community participation and targeted financial incentives.“We don’t want even a single mother to lose her life. We don’t want a single child to lose his or her life,” the CM said, adding that the state was working to expand civil hospitals, district hospitals and mother-and-child hospitals.Meghalaya is expected to receive around Rs 750-800 crore under the PM-DevINE scheme over the next five years. Most of the projects will be directed towards the health sector, Sangma said. Tura, Shillong and Jowai have been identified for major hospital infrastructure investments.Sampath Kumar, additional chief secretary, reaffirmed the state’s vision of achieving single-digit maternal and infant mortality rates, on par with Kerala.
