Through Maternal and Child Health Avenue Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.

What is Maternal and Child Health (MCH)?
MCH services include prenatal care, labour and delivery assistance, postpartum care, newborn care, child health services, family planning education, health promotion and education, crisis intervention, and community engagement.

What Rotary does for MCH
Rotary provides education, promotes immunizations and awareness, and encourages regular checkups. Women are taught how to protect themselves and their children from disease.

How is the District 3131 MCH RY 24-25 Team helping Clubs to deliver in this avenue?
The district team supports clubs in completing their dream projects under the MCH avenue by initiating key projects and assisting clubs to execute them as outlined below:

1. Asha-Ek Kiran
Asha-Ek Kiran is an initiative dedicated to strengthening healthcare by training Asha workers. These frontline health workers play a crucial role in detecting neonatal and child developmental disorders at an early stage. Rotary clubs actively support this program by organizing training sessions and monitoring its effectiveness. This project ensures that children receive timely medical attention, preventing long-term health complications and reduce mortability rate.

How has the MCH District 3131 team RY 24-25 supported execution of this project?
While Asha workers and Angan sevikas from different regions within District 3131 are occasionally trained by local government staff, it is not adequate to achieve the desired results. Therefore the District MCH team has collaborated with Bharathi Vidhyapeth Medical college to devise a 4-5 hour training program to complement what is being done by the authorities.
Recently 16 Rotary clubs from the PMC area, District 3131 collaborated to train 260 women assembled at a spacious PMC auditorium where several key aspects of mother and baby health were covered by Bharti Hospital Doctors who explained each aspect down to the level of understanding of the women present. It was very well received by all.
Prior to that, 8 Rotary clubs synergised to conduct a similar training for 375 women in Bhor led by Rotary club Bhor Raigad and co-host another seven clubs. District Governor Rtn.Shital Shah and District Director Shobha Nahar were present. In Indapur region Rotary club is organising same seminar for Asha workers in this month with more clubs from that region.
Yet another successful session was had at Baramati with 325 woman by two Rotary Clubs .
Thus a very successful Asha Ek Kiran program over RY 24-25 with over 26 clubs in synergy have made 960 women more knowledgeable which will translate into saving lives especially of children below one year of age.
2. Sukhada
Sukhada is designed to provide affordable maternity and neonatal care, addressing the issue of high maternal and neonatal mortality rates. The project focuses on establishing well-equipped maternity centers that offer quality healthcare at minimal costs.
On April 27th, 2025, Rotary Club of Poona Downtown inaugurated an upgraded maternal ward at the PMC run Smt. Draupadabai Murlidhar Khedekar Hospital, Bopodi, Pune. This CSR initiative funded by Duroshox was received with gratitude by the PMC officials, and local politicians and community,
3. Sanrakshan
Sanrakshan is a vaccination program that aims to increase immunization coverage among children. Through partnerships with pediatric clinics and healthcare providers, this project ensures the free distribution of essential vaccines to prevent life -threatening diseases.
Under this program Clubs are connecting with local NGOs, clinics, government and private hospitals to vaccinate children.
4. Thalassemia Alert
Thalassemia Alert is a preventive initiative that focuses on spreading awareness and conducting screenings to detect Thalassemia carriers. This inherited blood disorder can be managed effectively if detected early. The project organizes awareness programs in colleges to educate young individuals about the importance of screening before marriage.

The 15+ Clubs from District 3131 have thus far conducted events covering 1000+ Students and Beneficiary from various institutions of Pune city , Pimpri Chinchwad , Baramati, Rajgurunagar and cooprated with Dagadushet Ganpati Mandal.
The MCH District team provides crucial support in this arena by devising needy project frameworks, attain government permissions by District CoDiretor Rtn.Dr. Zimra Israel for Free scanning from MAHALAB it’s cost is 1200-1500/- rupees in the laboratory for each one . District team did a partnership with Thalassemia society Pune chapter for Awareness and councelling to positive Minor Thalassemia students and people.

Rtn.Shobha Nahar
Director, Maternal and Child Health
RID 3131