- National Safe Motherhood Day (NSMD) is observed on 11th April, every year, to raise awareness about the proper healthcare of women and maternity facilities to pregnant and lactating women.
- The day also focus on reducing anaemia among women, institutional delivery, for better pre and post natal health care etc. which are necessary for mothers.
- The day is celebrated due to the initiative of the White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI) to provide and inform women for healthcare habits and for the availability and accessibility of various healthcare programs during pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal services.
- In 2003, according to the request of WRAI, the Government of India had declared 11 April as National Safe Motherhood Day which is the anniversary day of Kasturba Gandhi’s birth. She is wife of Mohan das Karam Chand Gandhi, the father of nation. India is the 1st country in the world to have socially declared a National Safe Motherhood Day.
- WRA India was launched in 1999 when the Center for Catalyzing Change (formerly known as CEDPA), brought together a group of individuals and organizations to advocate for safe motherhood in India. Their vision is an India where all women and girls realize their right to quality health and wellbeing.
- Every year WRAI decides the theme of National Safe Motherhood Day.
- Approximately 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In developing countries 99% maternal deaths occurs. In women maternal mortality is higher basically living in rural areas and among poorer communities.
- India remains one of the most high-risk places in the world to give birth, accounting for almost 12% of total maternal deaths worldwide. Annually, over 35,000 women die in India of maternal causes, despite over 80% delivering in health facilities. Almost all these deaths are preventable, suggesting that quality of care needs attention at multiple levels.
- India has seen progress around maternal health in recent years but the rush to bring women to facilities has grown without investing enough on the experience they have once they are there.
- As compared to women, young adolescents face a higher risk of complications and death as a result of pregnancy. The fact that skilled care before, during and after childbirth can save the lives of women and newborn babies, can not be ignored. The maternal mortality worldwide dropped by about 44% in between 1990 and 2015.
- As part of the Sustainable Development Goals in between 2016 and 2030, the target is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100000 live births. Therefore, to raise awareness about the healthcare for women National Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated every year.
- To reduce needless deaths in pregnancy and childbirth, WRA India is working with communities to demand their rights to Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) and ensuring health systems are equipped to be supportive of health workers to provide RMC as standard practice.
