‘Op Mamta’ helps pregnant tribal women deliver safely
LAKHIMPUR KHERI: When the lockdown was announced on March 25 to control the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, Nirmala (23), Mamta Devi (25), Sarita (30) and Meena (23), all residents of a remote tribal area on India-Nepal border in Kheri, panicked because their delivery date was fast approaching in April.
Vehicular movement was prohibited and it was a big challenge to arrange ambulance owing to tough terrain in this tribal belt.
In such odd times, ‘Operation Mamta’ (motherhood) recently floated by Kheri chief development officer (CDO) Arvind Singh came to the aid of these women. Singh is working behind the scenes as a corona warrior aiding and assisting those affected by the dreaded pandemic. All the four women gave birth to their babies between April 18 and 24 at the delivery centres set up in their neighbourhood under Op Mamta, which saved them a tedious journey of at least 50 km to the nearest health centre.
CDO Arvind Singh had first launched Operation Kavach on April 13 to provide quality PPE kits to health workers, army and paramilitary forces. This was followed by Operation Chaturbhuj to provide livelihood to labourers stranded due to the lockdown. The initiative has benefited over 50,000 labourers.
After this, CDO Arvind Singh focused on pregnant women in remote rural areas who were facing difficulties in approaching health centres due to the pandemic. Opeartion Mamta is a project to resolve this issue.
Briefing about Op Mamta, Singh said, “In tribal areas of Pallia block, institutional delivery rate of just 37% was always a concern. Sub-health centres in these areas were abandoned and left with no medical facility or staff. “Lockdown due to corona threat compounded the miseries of the would-be-mothers in these remote areas.
“To set up health centres at the local level for institutional delivery and post-delivery care of lactating mothers and their babies, Op Mamta was implemented at seven dilapidated health centres in Chandan Chowki, Dhuskiya, Chhediya Paschim, Gaurifanta, Najhota, Bankati and Keeratpur, all tribal villages in the periphery of Dudhwa National Park.”
Singh said, “Along with CMO Dr Manoj Agrawal, we ensured the seven centres were renovated and equipped with medical facilities. At every centre, two permanent ANMs were posted to attend to the mothers with other staff.”
The CDO informed that on April 23, a dedicated ambulance to attend the needy at these centres was provided. He said, “We felt relieved after over two dozen mothers gave birth at these centres since April 6.”
Singh said while these seven centres would benefit 47,500 Tharu population of 45 villages, they would also serve as first point of response in case corona threat surfaced. He also said that if successful, Op Mamta would be extended to all blocks of the district