Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling today said that pregnant women who have given birth at health centres during cyclone will continue to receive care at the health centres until the weather conditions stabilize and suitable accommodations are available for them.
Following Cyclone Dana’s impact, Mahaling, revealed that the state’s preparedness measures paid off in ensuring the safety of pregnant women and their newborns.
As per the government’s evacuation plan, a list of 34,080 pregnant women in 14 districts was compiled before the cyclone made landfall.
Of the 9,877 pregnant women, 4,867 were shifted to the nearest health centre and Maa Gruha” for timely medical attention as they were expected to give birth during the storm. Thankfully, 2,366 women have delivered their babies safely, with 1,993 opting for normal delivery and 373 undergoing cesarean sections. Remarkably, 18 of the newborns were twins.
All mothers and babies are being closely monitored at health centres, with their post-natal condition being tracked to ensure their well-being. According to Mahaling, there was no reported maternal or infant mortality during the cyclone.