Guwahati, November 6: Assam has achieved encouraging progress in strengthening maternal healthcare, with the share of maternal deaths attributed to sepsis declining from 21 per cent in July 2026 to 8 per cent in October 2026.
This significant improvement reflects the state’s sustained efforts to strengthen infection prevention and control practices across public health facilities.
Recognising Assam’s progress and its initiatives in infection control, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has invited the state to share its infection-control model with other states reporting a high incidence of maternal deaths due to sepsis. Assam will present its experience during a virtual discussion scheduled for November 6, 2026.
As part of its efforts to improve maternal and newborn healthcare, the Government of Assam has introduced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and an Infection Prevention and Control Mechanism (IPCM) digital monitoring portal.
These initiatives were formally launched by Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal at Dibrugarh on September 25, 2026, during the State Convention on Maternal Mortality Reduction, Infant Mortality Reduction and Infection Control.
The SOPs provide standardised guidelines for infection prevention and control in critical maternal and newborn care areas, including labour rooms, maternity operation theatres, postnatal wards, Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) and Newborn Stabilisation Units (NBSUs). The guidelines aim to strengthen hygiene standards, minimise the risk of hospital-acquired infections and ensure safer healthcare services for mothers and newborns.
The IPCM Portal has been developed to facilitate real-time monitoring and systematic review of infection-control practices across public health facilities. It tracks daily cleaning activities in labour rooms and maternity operation theatres through photographic evidence, autoclave quality control with geo-tagged photographs, regular microbial surveillance, activities of Hospital Infection Control Committees and facility-wise compliance.
The digital platform will also help identify gaps in infection-control practices and facilitate timely corrective measures, thereby strengthening accountability and improving the quality of healthcare delivery.
Commending the dedicated efforts of doctors, nurses, frontline health workers and the National Health Mission (NHM) team, Health Minister Ashok Singhal reiterated the government’s commitment to further strengthening infection prevention, timely detection and effective treatment of infections.
The decline in the share of maternal deaths attributed to sepsis and the recognition by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare mark an encouraging milestone in Assam’s efforts to ensure safer motherhood and reduce preventable maternal deaths.
The state will continue to strengthen its healthcare systems to ensure quality, safe and effective maternal and newborn care for all.
Anup Sharma is a senior journalist with over two decades of experience covering India's Northeast. Based in Guwahati, Assam, he has worked with leading media organisations including The Times of India, The Telegraph and The Pioneer. He is currently contributing to Agence France-Presse (AFP). His extensive experience in regional journalism brings valuable editorial insight and a deep understanding of the Northeast to EasternLens.
