The Haryana Health Department has made it compulsory for all pregnant women to register within the first trimester of pregnancy. This decision comes after the state recorded a decline in sex ratio at birth (SRB) from 916 in 2023 to 910 in 2024. The government aims to ensure better maternal and infant health while also tackling the issue of female foeticide.
Why Early Pregnancy Registration is Important
Early antenatal care (ANC) registration helps in:
- Providing essential healthcare to pregnant women to prevent complications like anemia and low birth weight.
- Curbing pre-natal sex determination and female foeticide.
- Ensuring gender equality by monitoring pregnancies from the beginning.
- Giving access to government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, which supports women who lack medical services.
Government’s Directive and Actions
- Strict Monitoring: Officials responsible for low registration rates will receive show-cause notices for non-compliance.
- Mandatory Registration for Ultrasound Centers: Any ultrasound center conducting scans without antenatal registration will be penalized.
- Hospitals & Doctors’ Involvement: Health officials have directed all hospitals, gynecologists, and radiology centers to ensure 100% pregnancy registrations.
The Bigger Issue: Changing Mindsets
Doctors believe that while monitoring and registration are crucial, the real challenge lies in changing societal attitudes. Gender equality needs to be promoted to ensure that every child, regardless of gender, has the right to be born and thrive.
As doctors and healthcare professionals, it is our duty to educate expecting mothers about the importance of early pregnancy registration. By ensuring timely antenatal care, we can help improve maternal and infant health while contributing to a balanced sex ratio.
📢 Spread awareness! Encourage early pregnancy registration and promote gender equality in healthcare.
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