Nagaland marked 10 years of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) as over 23,000 pregnant women received antenatal care services across the state.
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Minister Paiwang Konyak reaffirms commitment to safe motherhood
DIMAPUR — Nagaland joined the nationwide observance of the 10th anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) on Tuesday, with Minister for Health and Family Welfare P Paiwang Konyak reaffirming the state's commitment to ensuring safe motherhood, particularly in remote areas.
Launching the programme at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare in Kohima, Konyak said that over the past decade, healthcare professionals in Nagaland had gone beyond the call of duty to ensure that pregnant women received timely and quality antenatal care.
He noted that doctors and gynaecologists in the state had not waited for expectant mothers to seek care, but had instead travelled to critical health facilities, including primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs), to ensure that no mother was left behind and that high-risk pregnancies were identified early.
The minister stated that specialists had reached underserved locations with portable ultrasound facilities under the National Health Mission, strengthening access to specialist-led antenatal services across the state.
According to him, more than 23,000 pregnant women in Nagaland had benefited from antenatal care services through PMSMA over the past 10 years, while 2,303 high-risk pregnancies had been identified and provided with early intervention and treatment.
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Konyak acknowledged the contributions of specialists, doctors, nurses, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), and accredited social health activists (ASHAs), saying that the success of the programme would not have been possible without their dedication and tireless efforts.
Appealing for continued commitment, he urged all stakeholders to reach more mothers, especially those living in the most remote parts of the state.
He also released a short video highlighting 10 years of PMSMA implementation in Nagaland.
June 9, 2026, marked the 10th year of PMSMA, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, aimed at providing fixed-day, assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care services to pregnant women, particularly during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
The programme has played a key role in the early identification and management of high-risk pregnancies through specialist consultations, enhanced diagnostic services and referral linkages.
Under the Extended PMSMA (e-PMSMA), the department has been ensuring name-based tracking and follow-up of identified high-risk pregnancies until delivery and up to 45 days postpartum.
At present, Nagaland has 60 designated health units providing PMSMA services, including district hospitals, CHCs, PHCs and Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs).
In addition, all 336 functional HWCs in the state will offer PMSMA-related services and facilitate teleconsultations through the eSanjeevani National Telemedicine Service whenever specialist support is required.
Minister urges support for state-wide tobacco ban
Minister Paiwang Konyak urged collective and coordinated approach to support to the proposed one-year ban on tobacco across the state.
The minister commented this during a high-level review meeting of the Department of Health & Family Welfare held on Tuesday, in the presence of the Secretary H&FW, S Tainiu Khiam and senior officers from the department attended the meeting.
During the meeting, Konyak emphasised the need for a collective and coordinated approach towards public health and called upon civil society organizations, churches, and community leaders to extend their wholehearted support to the proposed one-year ban on tobacco.
He stated that such a measure would significantly contribute to improving public health and safeguarding the younger generation from the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.
The minister further urged all stakeholders to cooperate closely with the district administration and police authorities to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of the initiative.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has acknowledged Paiwang Konyak for registering as a Ni-Kshay Mitra under the Prime Minister’s TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
“By becoming a Ni-Kshay Mitra, the Minister has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting persons undergoing tuberculosis (TB) treatment through nutritional and other food supplements,” an update stated.