Health Ministry Announced Birth Companions Presence During Child Delivery

Health Ministry Announced ‘Birth Companions’ Presence During Child Delivery

The Union Health Ministry has allowed ‘birth companions’ during delivery in public health facilities, a unique step to reduce maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) in the country.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which promotes labour companionship, says it is a core element of care for improving maternal and infant health.

India needs to follow the World Health Organisation, accordingly, Union Health Ministry says, husbands can now be by the side of their wives when their children are born, even in government hospitals.

With private hospitals allowing husbands to be with their wives during delivery, government hospitals have not lagged behind.

So, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry has decided to allow birth companions during deliveries in government hospitals.

Other than the husband, a female relative can be with the pregnant woman at the time of delivery.

TST