World over, commemorative days have become a tool for card manufacturers. Mother’s Day is not spared from this commercial exploitation too. However, a noble few remain steadfast to its true worth, attaching a sentimental value to the occasion by remembering their parents and seeking their blessings. They unflinchingly dedicate any success in their lives to their family, especially their mother. At Piramal Swasthya, our work too would not have fared much had it not been for the scores of mothers who brought about the change in their families.
In fact, when we first started our work on mother and child health, the role women was already changing—she was already playing an active and vocal role in the community. While the hierarchy in the family remained the same with the menfolk having the final say, the womenfolk did have their way and subtle means in bringing about the community forward. In some towns, the mothers were already organized under self-help societies. These enterprising mothers played a crucial role in many of our Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs. Although Piramal Swasthya coordinated and organized the programs, there were additional demands and challenges owing to issues in resource, time, and reach. For instance, where community workers were not available, mothers provided the necessary psychosocial support, including carrying out home visits as a social measure and exchanging knowledge with their peers for optimal infant nutrition and health. They were also instrumental in bringing about the change in perception about social healthcare—both, within their families and without.
Today, our nation has successfully tackled the high infant and maternal mortality rates. The individual contribution of mothers cannot be underplayed in bringing about this change. Piramal Swasthya recognizes the crucial role played by mothers in helping India achieve its sustainable development goals (SDG) by 2030. About 70 percent of India’s population live in remote rural areas with little or no access to healthcare. Even though our services are designed to reach the last household and the last village, mothers play an important role in ensuring the success of health care services delivery.
We can keep eulogizing the different roles played by mothers in spreading health awareness, and there is no end to it. They have always been the giver—of hope, love, security, health… and life.
Remember to celebrate this day by paying tribute to the one person from where all goodness spreads: your mother.
