ARMMAN has launched the first phase of its Integrated High-Risk Pregnancy Tracking & Management (IHRPTM) programme in the aspirational district of Nandurbar, Maharashtra, training 22 medical officers and specialist doctors to identify and manage high-risk pregnancies.
This initiative is part of ARMMAN’s integrated healthcare approach in Nandurbar, complementing the Swasth Kadam and Arogya Sakhi programmes.
Here’s how this integration will work on the ground:
Arogya Sakhi: Empowering ASHAs for Early Detection
Local ASHAs are up-skilled as Arogya Sakhis, equipped with diagnostic kits, including fetal Dopplers to monitor fetal heartbeats. They visit pregnant women to check for high-risk conditions like anemia, hypertension, or diabetes. For infants aged 0–1 years, they monitor weight, height, and developmental milestones, such as crawling or eating, while educating mothers on exclusive breastfeeding for six months and complementary feeding thereafter.
If an Arogya Sakhi identifies a high-risk condition in a pregnant woman, she refers the case to an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) trained under IHRPTM. For children showing signs of malnutrition, referrals are made to the Swasth Kadam programme for further care.
IHRPTM: Managing High-Risk Pregnancies
IHRPTM trains ANMs, MOs, and specialists to handle high-risk pregnancies effectively. When an Arogya Sakhi refers a high-risk case, the trained ANM takes over, providing basic management for conditions like anemia or hypertension. If advanced care is needed, the ANM refers the woman to an MO or specialist at a Primary Health Center (PHC) or hospital. The recent training of 22 MOs and specialists ensures that complex cases receive expert attention, creating a continuum of care for pregnant women.
Swasth Kadam: Reducing Child Undernutrition
Swasth Kadam focuses on children aged 0–2 years, addressing undernutrition, including Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). When Arogya Sakhis identify malnutrition risks, they refer children to the Swasth Kadam team. Counsellors provide virtual phone-based guidance to mothers, offering nutritional advice to promote healthy growth. In severe cases, children may be directly referred to Swasth Kadam, bypassing the 0 to 1 year focus of Arogya Sakhi.
By embedding technology and training directly in the community, ARMMAN is closing the last-mile gap in maternal and child health and setting Nandurbar on a path toward safer pregnancies, healthier babies and brighter futures.