The Safe Motherhood initiative aims at developing a feasible, affordable, acceptable and replicable model, utilizing by and large the existing health infrastructure through the primary health care approach. The high maternal mortality and morbidity are expected to be reduced in a reasonably short period of time through his approach and model. The current Safe Motherhood project is an extension of the earlier Women’s Leadership Project taken up in the same area and population which helped women to organize themselves to constitute Mahila Mandals (Women’s Clubs) to look after their own health and improve their status in the society by getting empowered through knowledge and by acquiring skills for taking up income generation activities. This was the beginning of Community participation in health care activities particularly focused on women and children.
Area and Population Covered
The Safe Motherhood project covers two Primary Health Centers, Adle BK and Khadkala of Zilla Parishad, Pune, having a population of little over 60,000 (1991 census) spread over 60 villages of Mawal Thesis of Pune District. There are at present 17 sub–centers. The villages are located not only in the plain area which are accessible but also are tucked up in between the Sahyadri range of hills which are relatively less accessible. Although the area is rain fed, there is acute shortage of drinking water during summer in some of the villages. The socio–economic status of the people is generally of the middle and lower order.
To achieve improvement in reproductive health of women, particularly pregnant women, towards achieving safe motherhood through a package of services covering health care, economic development and income generation by women; adopting the primary health care approach with community participation and use of appropriate technology as the two major thrusts.