This recognition came at an event celebrating a landmark 50-year partnership between UNFPA and the Government of India.
- UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency and is a subsidiary organ of UN General Assembly.
India’s Initiatives for advancing Maternal Health and Family Planning
- Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan Yojana (SUMAN): Assured, dignified and respectful delivery of quality healthcare services at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services to any woman and newborn visiting a public health facility.
- Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): Provide assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care, free of cost, universally to all pregnant women.
- Midwifery Services Initiative: Training about 90,000 midwives as they can provide about 90% of all sexual, reproductive, maternal, new-born and adolescent health (SRMNAH) care.
India’s Advancements in Maternal health and Family Planning
- India has reduced Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) by 70% (between 2000 and 2020) to 97 (per 1,00,000 live births), positioning India to achieve SDG target of MMR below 70 by 2030.
- Total Fertility Rate (2.0 in 2020) reduced below Replacement level Fertility (2.1).
- In 2019–2021, 89% of women delivered in a health facility, up from 79% in 2015–2016.
- Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has declined from 39 in 2014 to 28 in 2020.