Shillong, Jan 7: Meghalaya has become the first state in the country where 100 per cent private maternity facilities have been certified under the ‘Manyata’, – a nationwide initiative to improve the quality of maternal and neonatal care in India.
According to the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), the initiative was implemented in close collaboration with the Shillong Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society.
The society said 12 private facilities were brought under the initiation for upskilling more than 230 healthcare professionals, to enable 7 lakh women to access higher-quality maternal care for safer childbirth and improved maternal outcomes in the state.
From April 2023 to January 2024 alone, the state recorded around 107[1] maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, , which was higher than the national average of 88 per 100,000 live births.
The society said Meghalaya with its challenging hilly terrain and widely dispersed population continues to report higher maternal deaths. Institutional delivery rates in the state have also lagged behind the national average.
“Given these geographical and infrastructural constraints, private maternity facilities play a crucial role in providing accessible care for women, particularly in remote districts,” it said.
Against this backdrop, the Manyata mark a significant step toward safer childbirth and improved maternal outcomes in the state.
Manyata is FOGSI’s quality improvement and certification initiative that acts as a stamp of quality, ensuring consistent, safe, and respectful care for mothers during and after childbirth. It promotes the adoption of 20 evidence-based clinical standards based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standards of quality care in maternal health across antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods.
FOGSI–Manyata Initiative National Convener Dr Hema Divakar said, “Manyata is not just a certification—it is a movement to ensure that every mother, regardless of where she lives, receives quality and compassionate maternity care. Meghalaya’s 100% private facility coverage is a proud moment for FOGSI and a model for how collective action can transform maternal health outcomes.”
“Reaching this milestone in a geographically challenging state like Meghalaya demonstrates what strong collaboration and commitment can achieve. By engaging every private facility and training healthcare providers, we are making childbirth safer and more dignified for women in even the most remote corners,” Dr Hrishikesh D. Pai, Chief Administrator said.
Senior Obstetrician Dr Indrani Roy said, “Through the Manyata training, our team has enhanced its clinical and patient communication practices. We see the difference every day in how confidently we can manage deliveries and reassure families that their loved ones are in safe hands.”
