In a first-of-its-kind initiative to bring down the maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the city, the health wing of the Trichy Corporation on Thursday embarked on an ambitious project by distributing supplement packs to high-risk pregnant women. The initiative, which is said to be the first in the state, is expected to benefit many expectant mothers in the city. According to a survey, about 13,000 to 14,000 pregnant women are in the city corporation limit in Trichy. Of them, 20% women come under the high-risk pregnancy category. Women coming under the high-risk category are those affected with HIV, hepatitis, heart diseases, etc are classified and who are prone to maternal mortality. Statistics show that Trichy city recorded 72 MMR per one lakh live births last year. The rate was equal to the state average MMR. The food supplement pack, which comprises nutritious foods like carrots, dates, chickoo, pomegranates, bananas, guavas, peanut candy, one egg and a small quantity of sprouts, will be provided to the high-risk pregnant women falling under the corporation limits. On Thursday, as many as 300 such pregnant women were given the supplements in a function organised at the city health centre in Woraiyur.

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