Aizawl: Mizoram on Thursday launched the SUMAN Roadmap 2030, aimed at reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths and ensuring timely, dignified and quality healthcare for women during pregnancy and childbirth.

State Health and Family Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii launched the roadmap at a state-level review meeting of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) programme here.

The roadmap is part of the Centre’s Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) initiative, launched in 2019 to ensure quality healthcare for pregnant women and newborns.

Launching the roadmap, Lalrinpuii said the initiative represented the government’s renewed commitment to protecting mothers and newborns and strengthening the public healthcare system.

She said the roadmap aimed to bring maternal mortality below 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, while further reducing newborn and child mortality and preventing avoidable deaths.

The Health Minister urged district authorities, programme officers and health facility in-charges to prioritise maternal and newborn health.

She also called for greater coordination among government departments, organisations and communities.

She said the success of the roadmap would ultimately be measured by the timely care mothers receive, the number of newborn lives saved and the maternal and newborn deaths prevented.

Health Secretary Lalzarmawii, who also spoke at the meeting, said Mizoram had made considerable progress in maternal and child healthcare, with institutional deliveries reaching around 93 per cent in 2025-26 and first-trimester antenatal registration standing at about 81 per cent.

However, institutional delivery rates remained comparatively low in the southern districts of Lawngtlai and Lunglei, as well as in Mamit, the state’s only aspirational district. Home deliveries without skilled birth attendants were also still being reported, she said.

Lalzarmawii directed officials to turn the review meeting’s findings into concrete action and ensure timely follow-up at the state and district levels.

She called for improvements in antenatal care, institutional deliveries, newborn survival and health data systems.

The meeting, chaired by National Health Mission (NHM) Mission Director R Lalchhuanawma, also reviewed district-wise health indicators, programme implementation and challenges related to healthcare access, patient referrals, manpower and service delivery.

Senior health officials from district offices and state headquarters attended the meeting.