Over 1,000 healthcare professionals trained in maternal and child healthcare

Over 1,000 healthcare professionals in Tamil Nadu were trained in maternal and child healthcare as part of a collaboration between the Singapore International Foundation, SingHealth, and Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

The Enhancing Maternal and Child Health Services (EMCH) Project, which was launched in 2015, was aimed at strengthening maternal and child healthcare across Tamil Nadu. In phase I (2015-2018), more than 1,000 healthcare professionals were trained and this contributed to reduced maternal mortality in districts including Tiruchi, Chengalpattu and Pudukottai.

Building on this, phase II (2023-2025) extended its reach to Primary Health Centres, enhancing the management of high-risk pregnancies and neonatal emergencies. Another 144 professionals were trained and a new cadre of Master Trainers were developed to sustain knowledge sharing within the State’s healthcare ecosystem, according to a press release.

Thursday marked the conclusion of the second phase of the EMCH Project. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian along with Health Secretary P. Senthilkumar presented certificates to master trainers. Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine A. Somasundaram noted there was a reduction in maternal deaths due to training of healthcare professionals.

Between 2023 and 2025, doctors and nurses from Singapore’s KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and SingHealth Polyclinics conducted multidisciplinary workshops that combined clinical training, technical assistance and protocol review for their counterparts across Tamil Nadu’s primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions. These 144 professionals are now better equipped to manage obstetric and neonatal emergencies and high risk pregnancies, the release said. A total of 50 participants from the trained cohort were identified as Master Trainers.

In a press release issued by the Health department, Mr. Subramanian said that Tamil Nadu accounted for the second lowest Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the country (as per Sample Registration System’s Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2021-2023).

The State’s MMR has been on the decline over the last four years.. It dropped from 90 per 1,00,000 live births in 2021-2022 to 39.5 per 1,00,000 live births in 2024-2025. The collaboration would help in further reduction in the MMR. The number of maternal deaths decreased from 827 in 2021-2022 to 320 in 2024-2025. Every year, 6.90 lakh pregnant women benefited from the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme in the State, the release said.

Among others, Tan Yi Hao, Vice-Consul (Administration and Consular), Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore, India (Chennai), Corinna Chan, chief executive officer, Singapore International Foundation, Shephali Tagore, senior consultant, Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Director of O & G International Medical Programme and Arun Thamburaj, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu were present.