National Safe Motherhood Day [April 11]

National Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated every year in India on April 11 to raise awareness about the care and treatment required for new or soon-to-be mothers. National Safe Motherhood Day is also an opportunity to demand better healthcare facilities from the government for pregnant women.

The Government of India approved the proposal of WRAI (White Ribbon Alliance) and declared April 11 as Safe Motherhood Day. In this article, we have shared the details of National Safe Motherhood Day 2023, its theme, history and significance.

National Safe Motherhood Day 2023

The Government of India launched National Safe Motherhood Day in 2003. This day aims to increase the knowledge of ordinary people about the importance of getting appropriate access to care during gestation, delivery, and postpartum. National Safe Motherhood Day 2023 will mark the 20th edition of this day.

Check out more details about National Safe Motherhood Day below.

National Safe Motherhood Day Theme 2023

The theme of National Safe Motherhood Day 2023 is yet to be announced. Every year, a new theme is shared based on which the events on this day take place. Check out the last three years' National Safe Motherhood Day theme below.

• 2022: "Remain at home amid coronavirus, protect mother and infant safe from coronavirus"
• 2021: “Stay at home during coronavirus, keep mother and newborn safe from coronavirus”
• 2019: "Midwives for mothers"

National Safe Motherhood Day - History

In 2003, the Indian government declared Kasturba Gandhi's birthday, April 11, as National Safe Motherhood Day. India accounts for 15% of all maternal deaths worldwide. This tragic data clearly gives a picture of how many people are still unaware of taking care of pregnant mothers in India. National Safe Motherhood Day encourages the safe treatment of all mothers.

Here is why this National Safe Motherhood Day is considered significant to observe in our country.

• Awareness regarding maternal health is still not up to the mark in our country.
• Every year, thousands of mothers die because of ill-mannered care and undernutrition during pregnancy and childbirth.
• National Safe Motherhood Day is crucial to promote awareness to educate people regarding maternal care during pregnancy.

National Safe Motherhood Day Significance

The goal of National Safe Motherhood Day is to fight maternal death due to unsafe motherhood, and raise awareness. So, government officials observe the day to teach women and mothers about the necessity of prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care. It is also important to make mothers understand that this care not only safeguards them but also ensures the baby's safety.

The purpose of the annual initiatives held on National Safe Motherhood Day is to promote consciousness and awareness that every woman has the right to sustain a healthy pregnancy and delivery

Why Celebrate National Safe Motherhood Day?

It is important to observe National Safe Motherhood Day because it raises awareness about the condition of mothers and how they should be treated.

• Poor and unprofessional prenatal care of mothers leads to the deaths of 44,000 Indian women each year.
• Heavy haemorrhage after delivery, pathogenic infections after giving birth, hypertension throughout pregnancy, undernutrition, physiological complications, and unsafe and illegal abortions account for roughly two-thirds of all maternal deaths.
• National Safe Motherhood Day aims to take action against such occurrences by promoting awareness regarding the treatment of new mothers, and pregnant and lactating women.
• On the recommendation of WRAI, an alliance of 1800 organisations, the Indian government designated April 11, the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, as National Safe Motherhood Day in 2003.

National Safe Motherhood Day - Facts

On National Safe Motherhood Day 2023, here are some facts about motherhood.

• Every day, over 830 women pass away as a result of unmonitored pregnancy and childbirth.
• The maternal mortality rate in underdeveloped nations is 99% higher.
• Rural regions that are deprived of desirable healthcare facilities mostly face maternal deaths.
• National Safe Motherhood Day aims to make healthcare facilities for mothers accessible.
• The unavailability of qualified and experienced professionals is also a major reason for not providing primary health care facilities to mothers.
• The unavailability of drugs and medical equipment in backward regions also contributes majorly to maternal deaths.

FAQs on National Safe Motherhood Day

Q1. When is National Safe Motherhood Day celebrated?

National Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated on April 11 every year in India. National Safe Motherhood Day raises awareness about the requirements of new mothers and aims to offer better healthcare facilities to all mothers in the country.

Q2. What is the theme for National Safe Motherhood Day 2023?

The National Safe Motherhood Day theme 2023 is yet to be announced. The theme for the day revolves around promoting safe motherhood. The events organized on National Safe Motherhood Day are all based on the theme of the year.

Q3. Why is National Safe Motherhood Day celebrated in India?

Every year in India, National Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated in India to create awareness and to communicate the importance of providing proper facilities and care to pregnant women. National Safe Motherhood Day aims to make proper healthcare a priority for all mothers.

Q4. Who started the National Safe Motherhood day observation?

On the recommendation of WRAI, an alliance of 1800 organisations, the Indian government designated April 11, the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, as National Safe Motherhood Day in 2003.

Q5. Whose birthday is celebrated as National Safe Motherhood Day?

The political activist, Kasturba Gandhi's birth anniversary, is celebrated as National Safe Motherhood Day. In 2003, April 11 was announced as National Safe Motherhood Day by the Government of India.

Q6. What was the National Safe Motherhood Day theme 2022?

The theme for National Safe Motherhood Day 2022 was "Remain at home amid coronavirus, protect mother and infant safe from coronavirus." Every year, the Government of India announces a new National Safe Motherhood Day theme.