State-Level Workshop on Maternal Mortality Reduction

August 31 , 2024 : ( AVAJ APKI NEWS )

A State-Level Workshop on ‘Tech Interventions for Maternal Mortality Reduction’ was
organized by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology jointly with AIIMS-Bathinda
and Govt. Medical College & Rajindra Hospital, Patiala under Mission Tandrust Punjab with the
support of Directorate of Environment & Climate Change-Govt. of Punjab. The event organized
at GMC-Patiala in collaboration with Department of Health and Family Welfare, GoP witnessed
participation of more than 100 Medical Officers, Gynecologists & other Healthcare
professionals.
The workshop focused on management of Post-Partum Hemorrhage (PPH) related
maternal mortality which is due to excessive bleeding of mother after childbirth. In the Opening
Session Dr. Dapinder Kaur Bakshi, Joint Director, Punjab State Council for Science &
Technology informed that Council is working with AIIMS Bathinda on two low cost innovative
interventions Non-Pneumatic Anti Shock Garment (NASG) and Uterine Balloon Tamponade
(UBT) for managing PPH in critical mothers. She informed that these interventions have been
initially piloted in districts Bathinda & Faridkot under Mission Tandrust Punjab, which impacted
in saving lives of more than 75 mothers from both districts. Based on success, these interventions
would now be introduced in 10 other district of Punjab under Phase-II, which is supported by
Directorate of Environment & Climate Change-GoP. This is the first workshop under the
program.
Dr. Lajya Devi Goyal, Head Deptt. of Gynecology, AIIMS Bathinda informed that the
strategic framework has been developed for capacity building of Health professionals of all the
delivery points of 10 districts. For this, GMC-Patiala, GMC-Amritsar & GGSMC-Faridkot will
act as implementation Centres who would be trained as master trainers for districts- Patiala,
Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Amritsar, Taran Taran, Gurdaspur, Moga, Muktsar, Faridkot &
Mansa. These centres would not only empowred but also equipped with necessary resources i-e.
Uterine Balloons & NASG.
Dr. Parneet Kaur, Head Deptt. of Gynecology, GMC-Patiala while welcoming the guests
informed that her centre will be catering to three districts Patiala, Sangrur & Fatehgarh Sahib,
whose Healthcare professionals joined for today’s workshop would be trained on both the
interventions. The other dignitaries who addressed the participants included Dr. Jatinder Kumar
Kansal, Civil Surgeon, Patiala, Dr. Davinderjeet Kaur, Civil Surgeon, Fatehgarh Sahib, Dr.
Girish Sahni, Medical Superintendent-GMC-Patiala and Dr.Satinder Kaur, GMC-Patiala.

He also insisted on making referral protocols for all the health institutions. The Civil
Surgeons of Patiala, Sangrur, and Fatehgarh Sahib commended the initiative led by PSCST and
AIIMS. They urged medical officers of aforesaid districts to adopt best practices to help Punjab
achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to
70. Over 100 health professionals, including gynecologists, nurses, and technicians from these
three districts, actively participated in the State Workshop.