Union Government launches new initiatives on Universal Health Coverage Day 2017

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda on 11 December 2017 launched various initiatives to observe Universal Health Coverage Day 2017.

Universal Health Coverage Day is observed every year on 12 December to commemorate the first unanimous United Nations resolution calling for countries to provide affordable, quality health care to every person, everywhere.

LaQshya Initiative
• Considering that there is a need to improve the quality of care in Labour rooms especially on the day of birth for maternal and neonatal survival, the Ministry launched 'LaQshya' Initiative also known as 'Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative'
• LaQshya was launched as a safe delivery mobile application for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in the peripheral area.
• It is expected to improve the quality of care provided to the pregnant mother in the Labour Room and Maternity Operation Theatres with an aim to prevent undesirable adverse outcomes associated with childbirth.
• It will be implemented in government Medical Colleges (MCs) besides District Hospitals (DHs), and high delivery load Sub- District Hospitals (SDHs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs).
• It plans to conduct quality certification of labour rooms and provide facilities to achieve the outlined targets.
• It aims to reduce preventable maternal and new-born mortality, morbidity and stillbirths associated with the care around delivery in Labour room and Maternity OT.

WCD Ministry hosts first-ever National Conference on under-nutrition

Union Health Minister conferred WHO Director-General’s special recognition award

Operational Guidelines for Obstetric High Dependency Units and Intensive Care Units
• The Ministry also released the Operational Guidelines for Obstetric High Dependency Units (HDUs) and Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
• These guidelines will complement the already existing National guidelines and will help the states and state level policy makers in setting up and operationalising the critical care units dedicated to the pregnant women.

mHealth: Safe Delivery Application
• The ministry also launched the safe delivery application mHealth for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in the peripheral areas.
• The application has Clinical Instruction films on key obstetric procedures which can help the health workers translate their learnt skills into practice.
• It has been field tested in few districts and has been found to be useful for health workers who provide maternity care.