Health Department to launch birth spacing awareness campaign from July 11

The Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare will conduct a State-wide awareness campaign from July 11 to 18 to educate the public on the importance of spacing between pregnancies and improve access to family planning services, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said.

In a statement on Monday, the Minister said women should be made aware of the health benefits of adequate spacing between births, noting that maintaining a minimum gap of two years between successive pregnancies can reduce maternal mortality by up to 30% and infant mortality by up to 10%.

The Minister also announced cash incentives of ₹5,000 each for three couples from every district who have three or more children. Another three couples from each district who maintain a minimum two-year gap between pregnancies will also receive ₹5,000.

Accordingly, six couples will be selected from each of the State’s 28 districts. If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the quota, the beneficiaries will be chosen through a lucky draw.

According to the Health Department, the government has released ₹56 lakh for the campaign, with each district receiving ₹2 lakh. The campaign will also promote modern family planning methods and focus on mandals where teenage pregnancies are prevalent. Cash awards will also be presented to doctors and healthcare personnel for outstanding performance during the campaign.