Shashi, age 25, and her mother-in-law Asarphi, head towards the labour ward of Shivpuri District Hospital. Shashi, from Chitora village, is pregnant with her second child. She had arrived at the hospital after traveling 12 km in the new ambulance service available throughout Shivpuri district. Shashi accessed the ambulance by calling the 24-hour phone line which is one means by which the government and partners UNICEF are increasing the rate of institutional deliveries in Madhya Pradesh state. ..Shivpuri district in Madhya Pradesh suffers from poor health outcomes. Of particular concern is the high rate of maternal mortality. One of the Indian government's aims, with partners Unicef, is to encourage the population to adopt practices to improve sanitation and health practices. In an area made up of traditionally disadvantage groups and suffering low literacy rates, this can be a challenge. ..A survey found that radio was the most readily accessible media by the Shivpuri community with more than half saying they tuned in several times a day. ..Dharkan 107.8 FM will go on air in July. The station that will broadcast to 75 villages in a 15-kilometer radius reaching 170,000 people...Rather than preaching educational messages, the station, which is already producing pilot programs, uses humor and folk artists performing in the local language to entertain and inform their audiences. There is a major impact, especially on women, who are contributing their voices to such wide-ranging issues as caste discrimination, female feticide and women,A?o?s empowerment. ..Photo: Tom Pietrasik.Shivpuri, Madhya Pradeh. India.June 2009
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