Guwahati, Nov 6 The share of maternal deaths attributed to sepsis in Assam declined by 13 percentage points between July and October this year, reflecting the state government’s sustained efforts in strengthening healthcare infrastructure, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal said on Friday.
He said the Centre has invited the state to share its infection-control model with states that reported a high incidence of maternal deaths due to sepsis.
Maternal sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by organ dysfunction resulting from infection during pregnancy, childbirth, post-abortion, or the postpartum period.
“The share of maternal deaths attributed to sepsis has declined from 21 per cent in July this year to 8 per cent in October. This significant improvement reflects the state’s sustained efforts to strengthen infection prevention and control practices across public health facilities,” Singhal said.
“Recognising Assam’s progress and its initiatives in infection control, the Health Ministry has invited the state to share its infection-control model with other states reporting a high incidence of maternal deaths due to sepsis. Assam will present its experience during a virtual discussion scheduled for Friday,” he said.
The minister said that as part of its efforts to improve maternal and newborn healthcare, the state government has introduced standard operating procedures for infection prevention and control, and an infection prevention and control mechanism (IPCM) portal.
These initiatives were formally launched by Singhal at Dibrugarh in September during the State Convention on Maternal Mortality Reduction, Infant Mortality Reduction and Infection Control.
The SOPs provide standardised guidelines for infection prevention and control in critical maternal and newborn care areas, including labour rooms, maternity operation theatres, postnatal wards, Special Newborn Care Units and Newborn Stabilisation Units.
The IPCM Portal has been developed to facilitate real-time monitoring and systematic review of infection-control practices across public health facilities.
It tracks daily cleaning activities in labour rooms and maternity operation theatres through photographic evidence, autoclave quality control with geo-tagged photographs, regular microbial surveillance, activities of Hospital Infection Control Committees and facility-wise compliance.
“The digital platform will also help identify gaps in infection-control practices and facilitate timely corrective measures, thereby strengthening accountability and improving the quality of healthcare delivery,” Singhal said.
Commending the efforts of doctors, nurses, frontline health workers and the National Health Mission (NHM) team, the minister affirmed the government’s commitment to further strengthening infection prevention, timely detection and effective treatment of infections.
“The decline in the share of maternal deaths attributed to sepsis and the recognition by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare mark an encouraging milestone in Assam’s efforts to ensure safer motherhood and reduce preventable maternal deaths. The state will continue to strengthen its healthcare systems to ensure quality, safe and effective maternal and newborn care for all,” Singhal added.
(PTI News)
