Nandapur The Ma Gruha (Maternity Waiting Home) under the Nandapur Community Health Centre in Koraput district has successfully facilitated safe motherhood for 2,849 pregnant women from 203 villages under 23 panchayats and 19 sub-health centers in Nandapur block. This initiative has significantly reduced home deliveries and promoted institutional births. The effort has been jointly carried out by the National Health Mission (NHM), the Nandapur Block Administration, the Koraput District Administration, and the State Health Department.
On the occasion of Mother’s Day, Dr. Dubaraj Murmu, head of the Nandapur Community Health Centre, praised all staff, volunteers, and associated institutions working tirelessly to ensure safe motherhood. According to him, one woman has successfully delivered at the Ma Gruha recently.
The block has 26 sub-health centers serving the population of the 23 panchayats. Out of these, 19 sub-health centers cater to 203 villages located in remote, hilly, river-crossed, and roadless areas where transportation facilities are limited. These villages have now been integrated into the National Health Mission’s scheme through the Nandapur Community Health Centre.
To encourage safe motherhood, incentive payments are being provided to pregnant women. The Ma Gruha, established at the block headquarters, plays a vital role in this effort.
Under the direct supervision of NHM BPM Rajalaxmi Panda, the Ma Gruha is operated by the voluntary organization HELPS (Health and Education for Life Promotion Society), Nandapur. The organization’s secretary Shibashankar Mohanty, director Shailabala Nayak, appointed ANMs, female health assistants, and ASHA workers assigned to these villages are actively identifying pregnant women, educating them about nutrition, ensuring timely vaccinations, and sensitizing both them and their families about the dangers of home births. They encourage institutional deliveries by bringing pregnant women to the health center.
Seven days before their expected delivery, pregnant women are brought to the Ma Gruha at the block headquarters where they are taken care of in a safe and hygienic environment, and then taken to the health center for delivery at the appropriate time.
Since its establishment in 2013 till the end of April 2025, the Ma Gruha has assisted 95 women in delivering safely during critical home situations and enabled 2,754 women to shift from risky home deliveries to safe institutional deliveries.
With over 200 women each year receiving safe motherhood care, the maternal and infant mortality rates in the block have significantly decreased, bringing pride to the health department of Nandapur block.