SingHealth and the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) launched a three-year training programme to improve care for pregnant mothers and manage high risk pregnancies in Karnataka, India.
SingHealth and the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) launched a three-year training programme to improve care for pregnant mothers and manage high risk pregnancies in Karnataka, India.
The programme, launched in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka’s State Institute of Health and Family Welfare (SIHFW) on 1 August, aims to reduce the number of mother and infant deaths at childbirth due to preventable causes in the south western Indian state.
An estimated 100,000 pregnant women and their newborn babies are expected to benefit from this collaborative effort.
“India contributes to 20% of global maternal deaths. Through this project, we aim to improve care for pregnant mothers and babies, ultimately lowering the Maternal Mortality Rate and Infant Mortality Rate in Karnataka and helping to create a reliable and sustainable healthcare environment for all our citizens,” said Shri. K.R. Ramesh Kumar, Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
Over the next three years, a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, neonatologists, midwives and senior nurses from Singapore General Hospital will be training 200 healthcare professionals from tertiary and secondary care government hospitals in Karnataka.
40 participants will become Master Trainers who will then train 200 more healthcare professionals in Karnataka.
Prof Chua Yeow Leng, Group Director of SingHealth’s International Collaboration office, said, “In sharing actionable ideas, skills and experiences, our healthcare teams will be better equipped to address the challenges of maternal and child health and improve the quality of care for generations to come.”
