Nurse Practitioner Midwifery Programme Approved, Boost to Safe Motherhood
Dehradun. In a landmark move to strengthen maternal and child healthcare, the Uttarakhand government has approved the Nurse Practitioner Midwifery (NPM) programme. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates and promote safe motherhood across the state.
The decision was taken during the State-level Midwifery Task Force meeting held at the Secretariat on Monday, chaired by Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar. He said the programme will serve as a milestone in ensuring quality, respectful, and evidence-based maternal care in the state. Currently, Uttarakhand’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) stands at 104 per one lakh live births, compared to the national average of 88.
First Batch of 30 Nurse Practitioner Midwives
Dr. Kumar informed that the state will soon launch the first batch of 30 Nurse Practitioner Midwives. A detailed proposal for the same is being prepared. The 18-month specialised training will be conducted at the State Midwifery Training Institute in Dehradun.
Upon completion, trained midwives with GNM/B.Sc. Nursing backgrounds will be deployed in selected government health institutions across the state. These midwives will provide safe delivery services, thereby improving maternal and newborn health outcomes and helping bring down mortality rates.
In Line with National Initiative and SDGs
The programme aligns with the Government of India’s Midwifery Initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), paving the way for Uttarakhand to achieve new milestones in maternal health services.
The meeting was attended by NHM Mission Director Manuj Goyal, NHM Director Dr. Rashmi Pant, Health Directorate Director Dr. C.P. Tripathi, Dr. Shikha Jangpangi, Dr. Uma Rawat, Senior Consultant Dr. Nitin Arora, along with other senior officials of the department.
