National Safe Motherhood Day (NSMD) is yearly marked across India on April 11 to increase awareness of the importance of maternal health and wellness, promote maternal health, and reduce maternal mortality rates in India.
NSMD also ensures access to high-quality maternal health care and promotes safe delivery.
Background:
- NSMD was founded by White Ribbon Alliance India (WRA India), a grassroots group dedicated to the health and rights of women and newborns.
- In 2003, the Government of India (GoI) recognized April 11 as National Safe Motherhood Day.
- It was established to highlight the need of ensuring that women have access to proper care during their pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period.
- The first National Safe Motherhood Day was commemorated on April 11, 2003
Significance of April 11:
- 11th April marks as the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi (1869-1944), an Indian political activist and the wife of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
- She was born on April 11, 1869, in Porbandar, British India (now in Gujarat).
- Kasturba Gandhi’s 155th birth anniversary is on April 11, 2024.
