Sundargarh: ‘Maa Gruha’ Proves Boon for Pregnant Women in Rajgangpur

Rourkela: While Odisha’s Maa Gruha (maternity waiting home) model has been appreciated by the Centre, this model continues to provide immense support to the expectant mothers in the remote areas in the State. 

One more success story of Maa Gruha model has come from Sundargarh district.

The Maa Gruha at Gaushalapada in Rajgangpur block has become a boon for pregnant women of over 40 remote villages nearby.

The Maa Gruha, which is a temporary home for expectant mothers, where they can wait for safe delivery, preferably 7-10 days before EDD, has benefited 277 mothers in Rajgangpur block in the district.

The maternity waiting home has been operational since June 2019.

“In a tribal dominated district like Sundargarh, ‘Maa Gruha’ has played an important role in ensuring the health of mothers and newborns. Pregnant women with symptoms of a variety of health complications, including those in remote areas, are being housed in the MWH before delivery. Here, she is provided with health check-ups, nutritious food, and counseling and can be taken to a nearby hospital in time to ensure a safe delivery. After the childbirth, the mother and baby are sent home safe,” said Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Collector Sundargarh.

According to the Sundargarh administration, there are nine ‘Maa Gruhas’ have been operating in remote areas in the district.

The admin is planning to set up nine such maternity waiting homes in the coming two months. Mother and baby kit will be provided in these centres.
Geographical barrier and lack of communication in remote areas often hinder transportation of expectant mothers to hospitals in the last stage of labour or in emergency. Suitable place and cost factors involved in staying outside before delivery is also not up to the reach of poor families in remote areas.

In order to address these problems, the State Government has introduced the Maa Gruha model to encourage safe institutional delivery in the remote areas.

Recently, the Central Government has decided to replicate Odisha’s Maa Gruha model in other Aspirational Districts of the country.