The District Health Society under Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Noklak conducted the orientation on Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) at the CMO’s Conference Hall, Noklak on 18 October.

The programme was attended by NGOs village health chairman, health workers and church leaders.

In an introduction of the initiative, Dr Victor NC, CMO-cum-MS said that Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan assures free and safe services for delivery care and treatment.

He stat2ed that SUMAN presents an opportunity to provide respectful and quality healthcare services to pregnant women accessing public health facilities for delivery at zero cost. The CMO said that safe pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period are important milestone to achieve optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes.

On the aims of SUMAN, Dr Victor, who fully conducted the orientation programme, pointed out that the initiative’s aim is to give quality healthcare to pregnant women and their newly born babies at free of cost.

He stressed that SUMAN has zero tolerance for denial of services to women and newborn visiting public health facility and zero tolerance for negligence. This is to end all preventable maternal and newborn deaths and morbidities and provide positive birthing experience.

Dr Victor stated that SUMAN scheme assures delivery plans for the High-Risk Pregnancy. It also ensures quality standards at all levels of delivery points, providing free delivery and post-natal care.

Speaking on the objectives of the initiative, CMO Noklak highlighted that SUMAN provides high quality medical and emergency services to pregnant women. Its objectives include using institutional and community-based platforms such as NGOs and SHGs to help spread awareness.

All pregnant women, newborns and mothers up to 6 months of delivery beneficiaries of the scheme which was launched on 10 October 2019.