For the past two months, a dedicated team at the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has been spending hours each day on the phone, meticulously tracking pregnant women across the city. The team verifies whether an expectant mother has attended her last antenatal visit, reminds her about upcoming appointments, and records vital health parameters such as blood pressure, blood sugar, weight changes, and haemoglobin levels. They also ensure that every prescribed test has been completed.
This system, introduced by the recently appointed city health officer Dr V C Subash Gandhi, is part of a comprehensive surveillance and follow-up mechanism. Health officials believe that this proactive approach will help drive maternal and infant mortality rates down to near zero.
Significant Decline in Mortality Rates
Tamil Nadu has consistently shown improvement in maternal and infant mortality rates, and Coimbatore district has recorded one of the fastest rates of decline. The maternal mortality rate (MMR) for 2025–2026 stands at an impressive 20, with an equal split of 10 in rural areas and 10 within corporation limits. This marks a substantial improvement from the previous year (2024–2025), when the MMR was 36.
Similarly, the infant mortality rate (IMR) in Coimbatore district has declined to 4.8 per 1,000 live births, down from 5.5 in the prior year. Within the CCMC area, the IMR is even lower at 3.9 per 1,000 live births for 2025-2026. In contrast, other western districts like Namakkal and Dharmapuri lag behind, with IMRs of 11.8 and 13.4, and MMRs of 31 and 36, respectively.
Consistent Effort Required
Dr Gandhi emphasizes that achieving such low rates requires persistent effort. At the call centre, the team makes about 40 calls daily. Antenatal care is conducted every Tuesday, and a nurse is stationed at the exit to confirm that all tests and checks have been completed. This rigorous monitoring ensures that no detail is overlooked.
Postpartum Monitoring Equally Crucial
The monitoring does not end with childbirth. Health workers continue to follow mothers for 42 days after delivery, a period that officials say remains critical but often gets overlooked. Dr Gandhi notes that three of the 10 maternal deaths recorded this year occurred 15 to 17 days after delivery. Postpartum care is equally important, and any incomplete test is flagged in red on the daily monitoring sheet, holding the nurse at the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) accountable.
To strengthen coordination with private hospitals and enable faster intervention during emergencies, a 24/7 helpline number has been affixed to the medical records of expectant mothers and shared with private healthcare facilities across the district.
Rural Areas Also Strengthened
In rural areas, monitoring has been enhanced as well. P Balusamy, deputy director of health services, states that awareness efforts have been increased and monitoring at the primary-care level improved to identify risks early and prevent last-minute emergencies. This comprehensive approach aims to ensure the well-being of both mothers and infants throughout the region.
