Pink cards for Expectant Mothers in India

By Akhand in Bhubaneswar

In order to avoid missing of prescriptions and ensuring quality Antenatal care(ANC) checkups for pregnant mothers Bankio Primary Health Centre(PHC) in eastern Indian state Orissa’s Khurdha District issues Pink Card to the delivering mothers. From the practice it was seen that the mothers who frequent hospitals for treatment related to pregnancy, either leave the application at home or miss it. In this case it was difficult to trace the earlier diagnosis done or medicine prescribed for the purpose. In such scenario the doctor has to start the treatment from the beginning.  Arriving at a comparative statement of mother’s condition within two consecutive time period is difficult as mothers could not easily elaborate what is the nature of diagnosis and drugs prescribed for this purpose. Convincing the mothers to carry the card to the hospital was a huge challenge.

The Pink Card introduced in the Khurda District not only solved the purpose but also served as a bridge between mother, child in one hand and hospital health support system in other hand.  The PHC pink card was born with an intention of providing continuous support to the mother and child. The PINK card contains all information which is vital to life of a pregnant woman such as height, weight, health, blood pressure, blood sugar etc. However, this information is lost once the patients turn to home. Dr. Suresh Champati, medical officer of the PHC, who championed the initiatives said that more than 200 cards have been issued to the patients till date within last five months.  Explaining the process he said “once the pregnant mother comes for quality ANC check up the basic features are registered and the card is retained with the PHC. Next time the patient visits she has to only tell her name to get back the card”. The card is extremely helpful in tracing life risk cases through frequent tracking of mother as well as babies health. Hence such critical cases can be referred to the higher order institutions for support.

The District Project Manager of National Rural Health Mission for Khurda District Mr. Rupak Mohapatra said that “this new initiative will help the doctors in treating the cases with ease as the pink card presents complete chronology of events occurred along with disease history of pregnant women. This is such a new initiative”. The process also identifies strengthened Rogi Kalyan Samiti at PHC level as the decision to take up the planning, printing & distribution of cards out of Rogi Kalyan Samiti Funds.

Currently baby note was added as an afterthought to the card which is handed over to the puerperal mother specifying birth weights of baby and other complications if any etc.