AstraZeneca has partnered the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) to initiative 'Suprabha Ganga Yatra' along the river Ganga. |
'Suprabha Ganga Yatra' will cover 100 cities, creating awareness on safe delivery and motherhood among rural women. The 2,400 km walkathon has 30-40 FOGSI-member doctors walking 20 kms every day along the Ganga, from Gangasagar to Gaumukh and Gangotri. |
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According to Bhasker Iyer, managing director, AstraZeneca India, "AstraZeneca has always been committed to its Safe Motherhood Campaign initiatives. In FOGSI's Suprabha Ganga Yatra, we saw a common platform that would help us reach out to our audiences in rural India." |
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Suprabha Ganga Yatra is a nationwide intensive effort to spread awareness by educating rural women on safe motherhood in their own languages. The objective of the yatra is also to make rural women aware of the services available, said Duru Shah, president, Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI). |
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Maternal mortality rate in India is at shocking level and yet the most ignored of public health problems. Every year about 6 lakh women die of pregnancy-related complications globally and 99 per cent of the deaths occur in developing countries. |
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India alone accounts for 25 per cent of the deaths, and has the third highest maternal mortality rate at 407 per 1 lakh births, below only Timor-Leste (800) and Nepal (415) in the South and South-East Asia region. Even countries like Thailand and Malaysia have a lower Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) than India. |
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Giving details about the campaign, Dr Shah, said, "Educating the youth, particularly young women on pregnancy management will help them and the professionals treating them, by empowering them to make responsible choices, allowing them to lead healthy lives for themselves and their children." |
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"The earlier young Indians are exposed to the preventive aspects of health, as well as dangers of unnatural sex, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, the faster we can recognise and achieve our economic and development goals, and objectives required to propel India into the 'Asian Century'," she added. |
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