The Research and Intervention for Sexual Health: Theory to Action (RISHTA) project focused attention on the symptom of vaginal discharge and established a Women’s Health Clinic in June 2009 in the Urban Health Clinic serving a low income community inhabited largely by Muslims. Every woman recruited into the project — 1125 of them — was asked to provide a medical history, to undergo an internal examination, and test for sexually transmitted infections (STI) before being given treatment.

Source: The Hindu
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To ensure safe birth and good maternal health at Community Health Centres (CHCs) and First Referral Units (FRUs), the health department is starting a unique 'On Call' service under which specialised doctors of the region would attend the delivery cases at the FRU or CHC concerned.
For this service the special secretary, Medical Health and Family Welfare, Uttar Pradesh, Dr Kajal has formed a 'Safe Birth Response Team' (SBRT) in Varanasi on Thursday which comprises gynaecologists, anaesthesiologists and paediatricians

Source: Times of India
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The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) has come up with a new initiative to incubate high dependency units (HDU) in government and private hospitals to deal with high-risk pregnancies. They will also assist hospitals in setting up these units. The federation is an apex body of obstetricians and gynaecologists in the country.

Source: Times of India
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 For 75 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's like a starter kit of clothes, sheets and toys that can even be used as a bed. And some say it helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates. The box includes very simple and day to day things and it has become age old tradition. And the report says that the box had helped to reduce infant mortality rates in Finland. Free distribution of this kind of box can also help developing countries to fight against infant mortality.

Source: BBC News
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Across 250 villages in Maharashtra, pregnant women are feeling a little less confused. They have someone telling them how to take care of themselves this week. They receive this counsel through voice messages on the mobile phone. They receive this counsel where they wish to receive it, even in the privacy of their homes. This is relevant in a state where only 43% of women have freedom to travel alone outside. These messages may spur them to change certain behaviours to benefit them and their babies. This is also a state where 1 million newborn babies die every year.

Source: Infochange.org
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