Purnea/Patna: The district administration in Purnea, in collaboration with UNICEF, has stepped up efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes, with a renewed focus on identifying and managing high-risk pregnancies and ensuring 100% institutional deliveries.
A one-day workshop held in the city on Tuesday brought together health officials and frontline workers to strengthen systems for early detection, tracking and follow-up of high-risk cases.
Focus on early detection and monitoring
Chairing the session, district magistrate Anshul Kumar said that every high-risk pregnancy presents “an opportunity to save a life”, directing officials to ensure that no such case goes unreported.
He emphasised the need for timely antenatal care (ANC) check-ups, strict monitoring and zero pendency in data entry, with the goal of ensuring all identified high-risk cases result in institutional deliveries.
Health experts at the workshop highlighted that early detection of complications, combined with regular monitoring and access to healthcare facilities, can significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality.
Improvement in identification rates
Officials said the district has made notable progress in identifying high-risk pregnancies in recent years. The detection rate has increased from 2.9% in 2021-22 to 14.4% in 2025-26, with a peak of 21.2% recorded in March 2026.
Among blocks, Baisi reported the highest identification rate at 27%, followed by Amour at 20.7% and Rupauli at 18.1%. Officials added that Purnea has emerged as a leading district in the state in terms of identifying and managing high-risk pregnancies.
Strengthening healthcare delivery
Participants stressed that while high-risk pregnancies present challenges, they also allow timely intervention through continuous medical supervision.
Officials reiterated that no pregnant woman should be left outside the healthcare system, with efforts focused on strengthening last-mile delivery of services through frontline workers.
Wide participation from health system
The workshop was attended by senior health officials including Civil Surgeon Dr P K Kanojia, district programme manager Saurendra Das, and UNICEF health specialist Dr Siddharth Shankar Reddy, along with block health managers, hospital administrators, nurses, ANMs and data operators.
Authorities said the initiative is part of a broader push to improve key health indicators and ensure safer pregnancies and childbirth across the district.
