Manipur: 319 Women Got Antenatal Care, 139 Gave Birth Amid Crisis

Any conflict, uprising, or protest that occurs, it impacts women the most. Women's reproductive health is adversely affected. Recently, over 319 pregnant women, including 19 in the high-risk category, received crucial antenatal care amid an ongoing ethnic clash in Manipur. 

The government informed Parliament on 28 July, Friday that 139 pregnant women have given birth to babies since the beginning of the ongoing crisis in Manipur till July 24. 

Govt On Reproductive Healthcare In Manipur

Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar in written pointed out that medical teams are provided to cater overall healthcare services to the victims at the designated relief camps in each of the affected districts in the northeastern state. As a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Pawar said that the Union health ministry deputed six teams, consisting of four doctors each in May and another team of four doctors in July. 

Pawar also informed that regular health check-ups are conducted at all the relief camps, and seriously ill are promptly transferred to the nearest hospitals by ambulance services. The minister also assured of healthcare services provided for women and children, including lactating mothers and feeding infants. The 319 pregnant women were provided with regular ANC checkups at the camps. She also mentioned catering to mental healthcare facilities for the victims of the conflict. 

On May 3, violence broke out in Manipur after a "Tribal Solidarity March" was organised to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Manipur's population consist of 53% of Meiteis, living in the Imphal valley, whereas 40% of Kukis and Nagas, reside in the hill districts. So far, the conflict has witnessed hundreds of fatal casualties. During conflict women were sexually assaulted- a video of two women being paraded naked went viral. The video sent caused nationwide outrage.  

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