Waiting Hut For Pregnant Women

The Waiting Hut for Pregnant Women initiative, launched in West Bengal in 2016, is a transformative maternal healthcare program designed to ensure safe and timely institutional deliveries for expectant mothers from remote, underserved, and economically disadvantaged communities. Many pregnant women in rural areas face significant barriers to accessing healthcare facilities, including:

• Long travel distances to health centers.
• Lack of affordable transportation.
• Inadequate prenatal check-ups.
• High risks of home deliveries due to poor medical supervision.

To address these challenges, the West Bengal State Government conceptualized Waiting Huts, a free residential facility where pregnant women can stay 7 to 10 days prior to their expected delivery dates, ensuring timely access to institutional care. Each Waiting Hut is equipped with round-the-clock medical personnel, essential healthcare infrastructure, and nutritious food, reducing maternal mortality rates and improving neonatal outcomes.

Objective

• Promote Institutional Deliveries: Reduce risks associated with home births by ensuring pregnant women have access to safe medical facilities.
• Provide Free Residential Care: Offer pregnant women a comfortable, hygienic environment to stay in before delivery, minimizing travel stress and health risks.
• Ensure Proper Nutrition and Medical Supervision: Provide balanced nutritional meals and continuous health monitoring to ensure the well-being of both the mother and baby.

Target Vulnerable Groups: Reach adolescent and young mothers (15-24 years old), who are at higher risk of pregnancy complications.
Encourage Community Participation: Build trust within communities, encouraging more women to seek institutional care and regular check-ups.

The Committee on the Empowerment of Women recognized the success of the Waiting Hut model and recommended its adoption nationwide in its 2018 report, “Women’s Healthcare: Policy Options”.

Location(2016 – Present)

Gosaba RH, 24 Parganas (South), Farakka BPHC, Teghari BPHC, Saktipur BPHC, Mahesail BPHC, Murshidabad, Chakulia RH, Uttar Dinajpur, Birpara SGH, Alipurduar, Tufanganj SDH, Coochbehar, Ratua RH, Malda.

Additionally, from 2016 to 2018, AGMSWT operated a Waiting Hut at Khulna Rural Hospital in Gosaba RH, 24 Parganas (North).