April 11: National Safe Motherhood Day

The National Safe Motherhood Day (NSMD) is celebrated every year on April 11 to create awareness on proper healthcare and maternity facilities to pregnant and lactating women. It also seeks to create awareness about the institutional delivery, reducing anemia among women and better pre and post natal health care are necessary for mothers. The theme of 2018 NSMD was ‘Respectful Maternity Care’.

Background

The NSMD is an initiative of White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, India (WRAI) to ensure that every women has access to during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal services. At request of WRAI, the Central Government in 2003 had instituted this day on the occasion of birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, wife of MK Gandhi, father of nation. India is first country in the world to celebrate National Safe Motherhood Day. Every year WRAI selects advocacy theme of NSMD.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2018