Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 12 November 2024
Aiming to improve the quality of Maternal and Newborn Care, the Dakshata initiative, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, was inaugurated on 7th November 2024 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This program focuses on enhancing care during the intra and immediate postpartum period.
A three-day training program for Nursing Officers, titled “Dakshata – Training Programme to Improve Maternal and Newborn Care,” was held from November 7 to 9, 2024, at the Directorate of Industries Conference Hall in Sri Vijaya Puram. The training aimed to equip healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to deliver improved care in labor rooms.
The training concluded on 9th November, with Dr. Suja Antony, Director of the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), gracing the event as the chief guest. Dr. Antony handed over certificates to the participants and emphasized the importance of providing quality care in labour rooms to ensure better pregnancy outcomes. She also highlighted the significance of cascade training at the local level and the follow-up of cases in labour rooms to maintain high standards of care.
In the program’s inaugural session, Dr. Avijit Roy, Joint Secretary (RCH-II), and Dr. M.K. Saha, Professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, addressed the participants. Dr. Roy encouraged the trainees to take the program seriously to improve healthcare quality in labour rooms and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
Dr. M.K. Saha, along with Ms. Ruby Varghese, Nursing Officer at Dr. R.P. Hospital, Mayabunder, and Ms. Privina, Nursing Officer at G.B. Pant Hospital, served as resource persons for the hands-on training sessions.
A total of 12 Nursing Officers from various health institutions participated in the training, which aims to equip them with the skills needed to make a meaningful impact on maternal and newborn care in the region.