Health Ministry Unveils SUMAN Roadmap 2030 to Accelerate Maternal and Newborn Care

Health Ministry Unveils SUMAN Roadmap 2030 to Accelerate Maternal and Newborn Care

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare convened a two-day national workshop in Lucknow on September 2–3 to advance the implementation of SUMAN Roadmap 2030, with the objective of accelerating progress towards zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths. Held under the chairpersonship of Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission, the workshop brought together more than 200 participants, including senior health officials from States and Union Territories, experts, academics, professional bodies and development partners.

Addressing the inaugural session, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Brajesh Pathak stressed the importance of registering newly married couples as an early intervention to prevent unintended pregnancies and promote planned and healthy pregnancies. Smt. Patnaik said India has made considerable progress in reducing maternal mortality but highlighted the need for sustained efforts, particularly in States with high maternal mortality ratios and in vulnerable and hard-to-reach areas. She said the SUMAN roadmap places safety, dignity and quality healthcare at the centre of the maternal health journey.

The roadmap follows a life-course and continuum-of-care model, covering healthcare interventions from the pre-pregnancy stage through antenatal, delivery and postnatal care. Its strategy is divided into two components: one specifically targeting 13 high-focus States and 130 districts with a disproportionate burden of maternal and newborn deaths, and another covering all States and Union Territories to sustain progress towards Sustainable Development Goal targets. The workshop examined issues including high-risk pregnancies, postpartum haemorrhage, Caesarean-section services, community interventions, Birth Waiting Homes, digital health, grievance redressal and the impact of climate change on maternal health. Guidelines on Birth Waiting Homes, communication material and a video on SUMAN Roadmap 2030 were also launched.

The meeting also gave States an opportunity to present their priorities, implementation challenges and proposed solutions, while a Gallery Walk showcased field innovations from across the country, including maternal health interventions and digital initiatives. Representatives from WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, Jhpiego, FOGSI, C3 and CIFF participated in the discussions and reiterated their support for the programme. Through technical sessions and group exercises, participants worked on practical solutions for high-risk pregnancy management, pre-pregnancy care, postpartum haemorrhage and Caesarean-section services. The Ministry said the deliberations would help translate the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 into measurable action and strengthen the national effort to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths by 2030.