National Safe Motherhood Day 2024, Theme, Significance

National Safe Motherhood Day 2024, Theme, History, Significance

Every year 11 April is celebrated as National Safe Motherhood Day. Check Out National Safe Motherhood Day 2024, Theme, History and Significance in this article.

Table of Contents

Every year 11 April is celebrated as National Safe Motherhood Day. The purpose of celebrating National Safe Motherhood Day is to promote the maternal safety of women. The main objective of this day is to spread awareness to women about safe pregnancy, delivery, and problems faced during delivery.

National Safe Motherhood Day

Celebration of National Safe Motherhood Day was started by the Government of India on 11th April in the year 2003. While announcing the celebration of this day, the government said that awareness regarding this is necessary so that no woman should die during pregnancy and delivery. In India, the situation of women dying due to childbirth is very critical.

India has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. According to statistics, 12 percent of women in India die due to complications during pregnancy, delivery, and post-delivery. Therefore, women need to be aware of pregnancy, labor, and post-delivery care required to ensure safe and healthy motherhood. On the occasion of National Safe Motherhood Day, let us know about the theme and history of this day.

National Safe Motherhood Day Theme 2024

The official theme for National Safe Motherhood Day 2024 has yet to be announced. However, there are several strong possibilities based on recent trends and global priorities:

Ensuring Equity in Maternal Healthcare: No Mother Left Behind
Prioritizing Investment in Maternal Health for a Sustainable Tomorrow
Empowering Families and Strengthening Communities for Optimal Maternal Health
Harnessing Technology for Improved Maternal Health Outcomes

National Safe Motherhood Day History

If we look at the history of this day, celebrating this day was started in the year 2003 at the request of White Ribbon Alliance India. Since then, every 2 years this day is celebrated on a special theme across the country. On the occasion of National Safe Motherhood Day, many types of programs are organized by the Central and State Governments. Medical teams go to cities, villages, and towns to provide information to women about pregnancy, labor, and why they need more care after delivery.

Year	Milestone
1980s	Emergence of the concept of a dedicated day for maternal health due to growing concern over high maternal mortality rates in India.
1991	The White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI), a network of non-governmental organizations, campaigns actively for a national day to raise awareness and advocate for improved maternal healthcare.
2003	Indian government officially recognizes April 11th as National Safe Motherhood Day, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, a prominent advocate for women’s empowerment and wife of Mahatma Gandhi, marking India as the first country to dedicate a day to maternal health.
2004	First celebration of Safe Motherhood Day, marked by awareness campaigns, rallies, and distribution of maternal health kits.
2005-2010	Shifting focus from awareness to advocacy, with campaigns urging the government to increase healthcare budgets and enhance maternal healthcare infrastructure.
2011-Present	The continued evolution of the day, with themes addressing specific challenges such as anemia in pregnant women, promoting institutional delivery, and improving access to postpartum care.

Significance of National Safe Motherhood Day

Raising Awareness: National Safe Motherhood Day brings into focus the myriad challenges encountered by mothers, including pregnancy complications, childbirth risks, and inadequate access to quality healthcare.
Advocating for Enhanced Maternal Healthcare Services: The day serves as a platform to advocate for governments, healthcare providers, and communities to enhance access to prenatal care, skilled birth attendants, and postpartum support, thereby ensuring safer pregnancies and childbirth experiences.
Promoting Healthy Pregnancy Practices: National Safe Motherhood Day underscores the significance of adopting healthy pregnancy practices such as proper nutrition, regular check-ups, and access to essential information for expecting mothers, fostering healthier outcomes for both mother and child.
Celebrating Motherhood: This day offers a moment to celebrate and honor mothers for their unparalleled contributions to society, recognizing their pivotal role in nurturing future generations.

National Safe Motherhood Day 2024 FAQs