WHITE RIBBON ALLIANCE INDIA – ASK, LISTEN, ACT
White Ribbon Alliance India has long been a flagship national alliance, leading initiatives which have been rolled out across the world. It has been nearly a decade since they launched Hamara Swasthya Hamari Awaaz (Our Health, Our Voice), the original model for the renowned, global What Women Want campaign.
As a result of Hamara Swasthya Hamari Awaaz, 335,000 women from different classes, castes, educations, and locations expressed one common demand: to be treated with respect, dignity, and non-discrimination when seeking reproductive and maternal health care.
‘I went to hospital for my delivery, where I had a very bitter experience. When my labour pain started, instead of taking care of me, the nurse started screaming at me. One of the nurses asked me either to go to a private hospital or to deliver the baby at home. I ask for respectful behaviour.’
Madhuri Kumari, aged 23.
Women’s calls for respectful care came as the Government of India was designing a bold new program—the Labour Room and Quality Improvement Initiative (LaQshya). WRA India supported the Government in integrating Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) into the LaQshya guidelines.
In December 2017, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched LaQshya, to reduce maternal death, improve quality of care and ensure RMC for all pregnant women attending public health facilities. This led to a cascade of policy, guideline, and curriculum changes to embed RMC in service delivery, including the Advanced Skills Lab Guideline, the National Midwifery Guideline, and the SUMAN scheme. Today, tens of thousands of health facilities are required to provide RMC in facility-based labour and post-partum care.
‘After the campaign, in the labour rooms, I saw a change. The health providers were explaining to the mother what they were going to do. I am happy that gradually it has been engrained in the health provider’s practice so now they are just doing it. They are sensitized now.’ Dr. Manju Chhugani, Dean, School of Nursing Sciences and Allied Health, Jamia Hamdard University.
‘The most important change has been better training of health providers and staff. Through this campaign, we have seen that in numerous hospitals, health and medical centres, the approach of those in authority has definitely changed. The attitude and behaviour of staff toward women who avail services in maternity care units have improved.’ Swarnalata Shyamal, community member,West Bengal.