Chandigarh, March 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
In a major push to elevate the standard of maternal and neonatal care in the state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the National Health Mission (NHM) Punjab has entered into a long-term Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jhpiego, an international non-governmental organization.
The MoU was signed by the Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Kumar Rahul and Country Director of Jhpiego Dr Amit Arun Shah, in the august presence of Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh.
Sharing details of the collaboration, Dr Balbir Singh stated that this partnership is a significant step toward strengthening Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health, and Nutrition (RMNCHA+N) services.
He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the state’s commitment to innovation-driven public health reforms and positioning Punjab as a leader in digital health.
Dr Balbir Singh informed that the primary objective is to enhance technical support to improve maternal and child health outcomes. “Our focus will be on strengthening antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care through standardized identification and management of high-risk pregnancies using digital and data-driven approaches,” he added.
Underlining the technological aspect of the MoU, the Health Minister stated that the state will strengthen the integration of key digital health platforms, including beneficiary tracking systems, IoT-enabled devices, and labour room monitoring solutions. This will enable real-time tracking of pregnant women and newborns, ensuring early identification of high-risk cases and timely clinical interventions.
He further said that the collaboration would also encompass the capacity building of healthcare workers, intensive monitoring, supportive supervision, and policy-level technical assistance. These efforts are expected to significantly reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Health Department, NHM Punjab, and various state-level stakeholders.
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