Bhubaneswar: In anticipation of Cyclone Montha, the Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department has launched extensive field-level programs to safeguard pregnant women in vulnerable districts, following directives from Health Secretary Ashwati S.
A total of 6,795 pregnant women have been identified across 11 districts likely to be severely affected—Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Kendrapada, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur.
Health workers and ASHA personnel are conducting door-to-door visits in sensitive regions, particularly near rivers and roads, to establish contact with expectant mothers and ensure their safe relocation. As of Tuesday morning, 1,558 women have been shifted to maternity homes and hospitals based on their individual needs.
Special attention is being given to food, water, and healthcare for the relocated women, with dedicated teams monitoring their well-being on a daily basis. In emergencies, 108 ambulances are being deployed to transport patients promptly to hospitals.
Notably, 452 women have safely delivered babies in healthcare facilities this morning, including a woman in Nabarangpur district, who gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
Health Secretary Ashwati S. has emphasized the goal of relocating all pregnant women from sensitive areas before the cyclone makes landfall. She has urged field officers and medical staff to remain vigilant, proactive, and responsive, while also commending those showing exemplary dedication in the field. District Chief Medical Officers have been instructed to submit detailed reports on ongoing efforts to the department.
