Improving maternal and newborn health status in urban Maharashtra

The document focuses on improving maternal and newborn health in urban Maharashtra through a partnership between SNEHA and municipal health systems. With rapid urbanization, a significant portion of the population resides in slums with limited access to quality healthcare. Despite the availability of public health infrastructure, primary care services remain underutilized due to resource constraints, while private healthcare remains unaffordable for the urban poor.

SNEHA has worked closely with municipal corporations to bridge this gap by strengthening primary care services and establishing referral networks to connect health posts, maternity homes, and hospitals. This partnership has improved service provision, particularly for maternal and newborn care, by enhancing the quality of antenatal and postnatal care, ensuring timely referrals for high-risk pregnancies, and improving coordination among healthcare providers.

Key achievements include increased access to antenatal services, improved adherence to referral protocols, and expanded community outreach to encourage health-seeking behaviors. The organization has also played a crucial role in training healthcare providers, facilitating regional referral meetings, and implementing successful models that have influenced broader healthcare strategies.

The document highlights the need for continued collaboration between public and private sectors to sustain and scale these interventions. By addressing systemic gaps and strengthening healthcare linkages, such partnerships can significantly improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in urban poor communities.