Giridih: Shri Sudivya Kumar, Hon’ble Minister, Government of Jharkhand (Urban Development & Housing; Higher & Technical Education; Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs), visited the UNICEF-supported Model CHC at Pirtand in Giridih district today( November 24,2025).

He reviewed its functioning and the efforts being made to strengthen maternal, newborn, and child health services at the centre. The visit also included an interaction with ANMs and Sahiya workers, acknowledging their crucial role in improving community-level health outcomes.

The visit highlighted several UNICEF-supported quality improvement initiatives at the Model CHC, including LaQshyacertification, strengthened PMSMA and Extended PMSMA services, enhanced community-level outreach by frontline workers, and innovations in immunisation systems and cold chain infrastructure.

Speaking on the occasion Hon’ble Minister Shri Sudivya Kumar said, “CHC Pirtand stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when committed frontline workers, a responsive health system, and strong development partnerships work in unison. I strongly believe that such model facilities should serve as learning sites for other districts, and we will work towards scaling these successful practices across the state so that every mother and newborn benefits from the same level of care and dignity.”

He further said, “The transformation witnessed here—especially the LaQshya-certified labour room demonstrates our government’s resolve to ensure that every woman in Jharkhand experiences safe, respectful, and high-quality maternity care.” 

“Jharkhand has made commendable progress in improving maternal and newborn health indicators. The transformation at CHC Pirtand shows that system strengthening through quality assurance, capacity building, and frontline empowerment leads to lasting impact,” the hon’ble Minister added.  

Highlighting the vital role of frontline workers in driving community participation and behaviour change, Astha Alang, Communication, Advocacy & Partnership Specialist, UNICEF Jharkhand, said,
“Sahiya workers and ANMs are the heartbeat of community health systems. Their ability to build trust, counsel families, promote timely care-seeking directly contributes to safer pregnancies and healthier newborns. Strengthening communication, community engagement, and behaviour change efforts will be key to ensuring that every household benefits from the services available at facilities like CHC Pirtand. UNICEF remains committed to partnering with the Government of Jharkhand to scale such best practices, strengthen immunisation systems, and enhance health service readiness across districts.”

CHC Pirtand’s progress reflects a systematic strengthening of infrastructure, clinical protocols, and data-driven decision-making. UNICEF has supported the facility through technical guidance on LaQshya standards, capacity building of staff, and improvements in labour room design and patient flow. These efforts ensure safer deliveries, timely risk identification, and improved outcomes for mothers and newborns

Briefing about UNICEF’s contribution in making CHC Pirtand a model facility, Dr. Vanesh Mathur, Health Officer, UNICEF, said, “Our work with CHC Pirtand has focused on strengthening core service delivery systems, high-risk pregnancy management and robust record-keeping. With UNICEF’s technical support, the facility has adopted standardised protocols, redesigned labour room infrastructure, and enhanced staff competencies, enabling it to meet national quality benchmarks and better serve women and newborns.”

The Hon’ble Minister’s visit reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening health systems, improving service delivery, and recognising the contribution of frontline health workers. The engagement is expected to further accelerate district and state-level efforts to prioritise quality maternal and newborn health services.