Urges action to safeguard maternal health
JAMMU, Jun 3: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raman Suri has expressed serious concern over the steadily increasing number of Caesarean Section (C-Section) deliveries in Jammu and Kashmir, describing the trend as alarming and requiring immediate attention from health authorities. Referring to reports indicating a sharp rise in surgical deliveries in both government and private hospitals, Suri said that while C-sections are often necessary to save the lives of mothers and newborns in complicated cases, their growing prevalence in routine pregnancies warrants a thorough examination.
Suri observed that healthcare data and surveys conducted over the years have shown a significant increase in Caesarean deliveries across urban as well as rural areas. He said that the trend is no longer confined to private healthcare institutions and has become increasingly common in government hospitals as well. Such a situation, he noted, raises important questions about maternal healthcare practices, awareness levels, lifestyle changes and other factors contributing to the growing dependence on surgical intervention during childbirth.
Calling for urgent action, Raman Suri urged the Health and Family Welfare Department to undertake an in-depth and scientific study to ascertain the exact reasons behind the rising number of C-section deliveries in the Union Territory. He said that the department should collect and analyze district-wise data, identify medical, nutritional, lifestyle and institutional factors responsible for the trend and submit a comprehensive report so that evidence-based policy decisions can be taken to address the issue effectively.
The senior BJP leader emphasized that preventive healthcare measures should be strengthened to promote normal deliveries wherever medically feasible. He suggested that based on the findings of the proposed study, healthcare authorities should formulate specific dietary guidelines for pregnant women, provide regular nutritional counselling and encourage healthy lifestyles during pregnancy. He further stressed the need for trained medical professionals to guide expectant mothers regarding safe physical activities, prenatal exercises and other scientifically proven methods that improve maternal health and increase the possibility of normal childbirth.
Suri said that awareness programmes should be launched at hospitals, health centres and community levels to educate women and their families about pregnancy care, nutrition and the benefits of normal delivery. He added that expectant mothers must be provided complete information about delivery options and that every effort should be made to ensure normal childbirth before opting for a Caesarean Section, except in cases where surgery is medically necessary for the safety of the mother or the child.
Reiterating that maternal and child health should remain a top priority, Raman Suri called upon doctors, healthcare institutions and policymakers to work collectively towards reducing avoidable surgical deliveries through better monitoring, counselling, nutrition support and preventive healthcare interventions. He stated that a balanced and patient-centric approach will not only improve health outcomes for mothers and newborns but will also help build greater confidence in the healthcare system while ensuring that C-sections are performed strictly on genuine medical grounds.