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Pioneering Care Slashes Maternal Deaths in Sickle Cell Pregnancies
8 Sep
Summary
- SEWA Rural received a BMJ Award for exemplary care in sickle cell pregnancies.
- Their model reduced maternal deaths by over 50% and stillbirths by 61%.
- Over 700 high-risk pregnancies were managed between 2016 and 2025.
Bharuch-based SEWA Rural has earned a prestigious BMJ Award South Asia 2026 for its exceptional healthcare team and their innovative approach to managing pregnancies complicated by sickle cell disease (SCD). The award recognizes a care model that has led to a remarkable decrease in adverse outcomes.
This pioneering initiative has reported a more than 50% reduction in maternal mortality and a significant 61% decrease in stillbirths among pregnant women with SCD. These results stem from focused efforts to improve identification, monitoring, and treatment for this high-risk group.
Between 2016 and 2025, SEWA Rural screened approximately 35,000 deliveries and provided specialized care for over 700 high-risk SCD pregnancies at its hospital in Jhagadia, Gujarat. This work directly addresses critical health disparities previously observed in tribal communities, where deliveries often resulted in stillbirths or low birth weight babies.
The initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Gayatri Desai, has set a new standard for specialized maternal care in South Asia, showcasing the impact of dedicated healthcare teams on improving patient outcomes.
