The Mother and Child Health (MCH) department at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has taken a huge step toward improving maternal health worldwide. On Saturday, BHU officially launched the REACH Trial, a multi-country, multi-centre clinical study focused on advancing care for pregnant women and new mothers.
This important initiative is being led in collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Belagavi, and is part of the WHO ‘Champion’ Trial Network.
🌍 What Is the REACH Trial?
The REACH Trial (short for “Research to Enhance Access and Care for Health”) is a non-inferiority clinical trial aimed at improving maternal healthcare practices globally. It will be conducted across 27 tertiary-level hospitals in 7 countries and will involve 6,200 women participants.
🏥 Countries & Institutions Involved:
The trial is being carried out in:
- India
- Argentina
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Uganda
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
Participating medical institutes in India include:
- BHU Varanasi (Institute of Medical Sciences)
- PGIMER Chandigarh
- MGIMS Wardha
- SCB Medical College, Cuttack
- Ballari Medical College
The Indian team is led by the Women’s and Children’s Health Research Unit at JNMC, Belagavi.
đź•’ Timeline of the Study:
The REACH Trial will run over 54 months, broken down as follows:
- 12 months for trial preparation
- 30 months for enrolling participants
- 12 months for analysis, publication, and sharing of results
đź’¬ Why It Matters
This global clinical trial aims to:
- Test new ways of delivering maternal care
- Improve safety and health outcomes for mothers
- Provide evidence for better healthcare policies
- Foster collaboration between top medical institutes worldwide
This could lead to better protocols for managing pregnancy and childbirth, especially in resource-limited settings.
🧠What Experts Say
According to a BHU spokesperson, the REACH trial is a milestone moment in maternal health. It brings together top researchers, doctors, and institutions to create solutions that can be scaled globally.
Prof. SN Sankhwar, Director of IMS BHU, and Prof. Shivaprasad Goudar from JNMC expressed hope that the trial will pave the way for global improvements in maternal care.
📢 Call to Action for Healthcare Professionals:
👩‍⚕️ Doctors and Researchers: Stay informed on trial outcomes to implement new evidence-based practices.
🌍 Public Health Leaders: Use findings to shape better maternal health policies.
🏥 Institutions: Support collaboration across countries and invest in maternal care initiatives.
đź“š Students and Residents: Get involved in clinical research and learn how global trials can influence local care.
Together, let’s work toward a future where every mother receives the best possible care, no matter where she lives.
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