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Bihar Tackles Stillbirth Crisis: Experts Demand Action
7 Oct
Summary
- Experts stress antenatal care, timely referral for high-risk pregnancies.
- Nearly 95,000 stillbirths reported in Bihar between 2021 and 2026.
- Workshop aims to improve stillbirth surveillance and corrective actions.
Health experts convened in Patna for a two-day workshop, emphasizing that enhanced antenatal care and timely referrals are vital for reducing stillbirths. The event, a collaboration between the Union health ministry, Bihar health department, and Unicef, targets the improvement of stillbirth surveillance and review systems within public health facilities across Bihar.
The program seeks to refine the processes for identifying, reporting, classifying, and reviewing stillbirths. Crucially, it aims to ensure that insights gained are translated into practical, grassroots-level improvements in maternal and newborn care. Between 2021 and 2026, Bihar has recorded approximately 94,759 stillbirths, a significant public health challenge.
Officials stressed the importance of understanding the preventable causes of stillbirths. The training provided is designed to equip master trainers who will, in turn, build the capacity of frontline health workers, such as ANMs and ASHAs. This ensures that surveillance findings lead to tangible improvements in care and a reduction in avoidable stillbirths.
