Sri Vijaya Puram, June 8: The Health Department of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration will organize a special maternal healthcare drive across the islands on June 9 as part of the nationwide celebration marking the 10th anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA).
The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on June 9, 2016, was designed to ensure that pregnant women receive free, comprehensive and quality antenatal care services, particularly during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Over the past decade, the programme has become one of the key components of India’s maternal healthcare strategy, focusing on early detection of complications and improving pregnancy outcomes.
This year’s observance will be held under the theme, “10 Years of PMSMA: Safer Pregnancies, Healthier Mothers, Stronger India,” highlighting a decade of efforts aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal health risks through regular antenatal care.
Health officials said special screening and outreach activities will be conducted at health institutions across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on June 9. The programme will be integrated with Ayushman Arogya Shivirs, enabling health workers to identify, counsel and mobilize eligible pregnant women to attend PMSMA sessions and access essential healthcare services.
Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying High-Risk Pregnancies (HRPs), which require closer monitoring and timely medical intervention. Medical experts note that early detection of conditions such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, anaemia and other pregnancy-related complications significantly improves the chances of safe delivery and healthy maternal outcomes.
Under the special observance, pregnant women attending the sessions will be provided a range of healthcare services free of cost. These include consultations with specialists, ultrasonography examinations, blood investigations and other essential antenatal assessments aimed at evaluating maternal and fetal health.
Officials stated that the programme follows the standard PMSMA model under which comprehensive antenatal care services are provided on the 9th day of every month at designated health facilities. These services are delivered by medical officers and obstetric specialists, ensuring that pregnant women receive professional medical guidance throughout their pregnancy.
The administration said health workers across the islands have been instructed to intensify awareness and mobilization efforts ahead of the June 9 observance. Accredited health workers and frontline staff are expected to reach out to pregnant women in both urban and rural areas, encouraging them to attend the scheduled health camps and consultations.
Maternal health remains a key priority area for public healthcare programmes, particularly in geographically dispersed regions such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where access to specialist services can be challenging for residents in remote locations.
Health authorities emphasized that regular antenatal check-ups play a crucial role in reducing risks during pregnancy and childbirth. Early diagnosis of complications allows doctors to develop appropriate care plans and ensure timely referrals when required.
Officials said the anniversary observance is not only a celebration of the programme’s achievements over the past ten years but also an opportunity to reinforce awareness about the importance of maternal healthcare and institutional support during pregnancy.
The Health Department has appealed to all eligible pregnant women, especially those in their second and third trimesters, to participate in the June 9 PMSMA sessions and avail themselves of the free healthcare services being offered.
Authorities expressed hope that increased participation in antenatal care programmes would contribute to healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries and improved maternal and child health outcomes across the islands.
