Anagha Amte: Transforming Reproductive Health for Tribal Women in Central India

As a gynaecologist working in Central India with a non-profit organization, I have dedicated my career to improving the reproductive health of tribal women in our region. Through a multi-pronged approach, my team and I are addressing key areas of concern:

• Adolescent health – Enhancing menstrual hygiene and awareness.
• Pregnancy care – Reducing complications and improving maternal and newborn outcomes.
• Family planning – Increasing awareness and ensuring access to contraceptive choice
• Fertility treatment – Providing care and support for those seeking pregnancy.

To bring these solutions to life, we have implemented several initiatives:

• Training staff to conduct focus group discussions (FGDs) to understand community needs.
• Organizing workshops for nurses to integrate physiotherapy exercises into prenatal
• Developing an Android-based pregnancy app to provide accessible maternal health information..
• Implementing a pain management program for women in labor.
• Establishing a leadership program for community health workers (ASHAs) to empower local women as health advocates.

These initiatives now reach around 2,000 students and young people and 500 pregnant women annually. Over the past five years, we have made significant strides in reducing pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders and their complications, improving the overall well-being of the women we serve.