White Ribbon Alliance encouraging dignified maternal care for women

The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, India, is advocating proper and basic quality care at health centre facilities for women

Much is made of the joys of motherhood and the process of giving birth. Actually, it is not as romantic as it sounds. Nor is the enabling environment particularly nurturing. Cases of abuse and chiding from doctors, unhygienic conditions in the hospital, unavailability of medicines and free ambulance services etc are some of the issues plaguing maternal care in India despite the government flagship programmes like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK). 

Take the case of 23-year-old Munni Kumari, who was “screamed at by a nurse” during her labour. “None of the prescribed medicines were available at the