RCH and SMCS

Because of customs and superstitions prevailing and also because of lack of health facilities in the area, reproductive child health and safe motherhood and child survival are quite neglected in the area. As a result, infant mortality rate in the area is 90 and under 5 mortality rate 125, as compared to state and national figures of 85 and 70, respectively. The community and families have very little knowledge about safe delivery and prenatal and postntal care of mother and child health. They have inappropriate space between the children and large number of children.

One mechanism to provide RCH services is through the health committees, which have been formed in the villages. The health committees regularly organise family planning camps in the villages. Women are sterilised at these camps by the doctors from the District Hospital.

Another mechanism in this direction is safe motherhood and child survival (SMCS). This mechanism specially helps and supports the needs of pregnant women, lactating mothers and children in the age group of 6 months to 3 years. This programme provides nutritional support for the target groups and conducts pregnancy awareness camps and trainign sessions for the dais, the traditional birth attendants. SMCS covers 98 villages and two blocks in Chitrakoot district.