GUWAHATI, Dec 13 � The State Government will very soon launch a new scheme aimed at providing the best of facilities to would-be mothers and newborns so as to bring down the maternal and infant mortality rate in the State.
Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while addressing mediapersons here on Tuesday informed that this new scheme christened �Adarani� would be formally launched on January 30, 2012 by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
�It will come into force from February 1 and we are sure this new initiative will go a long way in ensuring a more mother and child friendly ambience in the hospitals,� said Sarma adding that the government will have to bear an expenditure of Rs 70 to 80 crore for this welfare scheme.
It needs to be mentioned here that the maternal mortality rate in the State is very high when compared with other parts of the country.
As per the provisions in this scheme, any would-be mother will be able to avail all medical facilities right from registering to giving birth free of cost at government hospitals. Among the benefits that she will gain are free ultrasound, free blood test, free kit for caesarean and even drop-back facility on discharge.
What is more, the new mother would be provided with nutritious food after being dropped at her home.
�We want to ensure that institutional delivery in the State is increased which we are doing through various welfare schemes,� said Sarma mentioning that in the coming days more facilities would be installed in the hospitals to improve mother and child care.
As on date the State has been recording 4.5 lakh institutional deliveries annually. However, as per the census, 6 lakh deliveries take place every year in the State.
Under a pilot project, would-be mothers will not have to give blood replacement at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH).
On the other hand, the government has decided to bring in an additional two hundred and fifty 108 vehicles at the earliest.
