Odisha’s Mothers Delivered During Cyclone Dana

• A cyclone named ‘dana’, named after Qatar, caused a cyclone to landfall in Odisha, causing nearly 1,600 mothers to relocate their nests.

• The state’s disaster managers have been familiar with deliveries in public health institutions during calamities, but the large number of women delivering during Cyclone Dana has increased their sense of fulfillment.

• Up to 4,872 women were transferred to hospitals or Maa Gruhas (waiting facilities for pregnant women). Of the 2,865 deliveries, 2,367 were normal births, while 498 required lifesaving caesarean sections.

• The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority oversees the run-up to a potential catastrophe and the rescue work after.

• The family of Pranati Das, who had an expected date of delivery (EDD) of October 28, was moved to the nearest Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Talachua, 10 km away.

• Dr. Upasana Biswal, a social health activist, monitored five pregnant women approaching their EDD who were relocated there. As Dana neared landfall, Pranati safely delivered a boy weighing 2.15 kg.

• Archana Pradhan, 26, faced a similar situation at Nodhabasantpur village, 30 km from Giriapahi, where she delivered a healthy girl weighing 2.6 kg.

• The state government compiled an extensive list of 34,080 pregnant women, including 9,877 with EDD within two weeks of the cyclone.

• The state government cancelled all leaves for doctors in Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore, three districts anticipated to be affected by Dana. Government hospitals were equipped with 1,240 functional generators and 1,265 ambulances on standby for emergency response.