Kozhikode:

The government health institutions in the state will soon implement a Centre-sponsored scheme Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) that will provide free and cashless service to pregnant women during normal and caesarean childbirth and free service for babies who fall sick up to 30 days after birth.

The initiative of ministry of health and family welfare aims at eliminating infant and maternal mortality rates in the country. It will be implemented in all the government hospitals in both rural and urban areas through the state National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

Under the scheme, free medicines, food and diagnostic service for the neonatal period will be provided at the hospitals.

The scheme will also ensure free diet during the stay in government hospitals – three days in case of normal delivery and seven days for C-sections.

Free of cost transport facility from hospital to home for pregnant women will also be given.

Besides, Rs 700 will also be given to a woman on discharge after delivery. According to NRHM sources, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is 12 per 1,000 in the state a year and it is 62 per 1,000 in the country. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is below 80 per lakh in the state in a year while it is 400 per lakh in a year in the country.

M Beena, state mission director, NRHM, said the scheme will be a reality in the state once the NRHM completes preparation of guidelines for the project.

“We need to make clarification about facilities that provide free transportation and food to the beneficiaries. The problem is that the scheme has the provision to sanction only Rs 250 as transportation cost, which is not viable in the state as the charge of taxi and ambulance service are higher than the allotted amount.

Another problem is the provision to provide free food during the hospital stay. We are yet to decide whether we have to distribute food through hospital canteens or to entrust Kudumbasree for food distribution,” said Beena.

The state mission coordinator said the scheme will be launched officially across the government health institutions once the government issues an order detailing the guidelines.

A Baburaj, NRHM district project manager, said the scheme will be a blessing for many women from economically poor families who are finding it difficult to purchase medicines and are not in a position to provide nutritious food for the mother and child after delivery.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Kozhikode / by Sreedevi Chitharayan / TNN / July 01st, 2012