NTR Baby Kits for newborns set to roll out soon in state

Amaravati: Health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav said the distribution of NTR Baby Kits to infants born to mothers at government hospitals in Andhra Pradesh would be launched soon by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The minister said the programme was designed to provide essential newborn care items in a single kit, benefiting families during the crucial initial days after childbirth. He said the initiative would be particularly useful for poor and middle-class families by reducing part of the financial burden associated with newborn care. During a visit to the medical and health department headquarters at Mangalagiri on Thursday, Satya Kumar inspected different types of bags proposed for the NTR Baby Kits. Health department secretary Veera Pandian and commissioner K V N Chakradhar Babu explained the contents of the kits.

The minister reviewed the quality, quantity and utility of the items and instructed officials to ensure that only quality products useful for the health, hygiene and safety of newborns were included.

The state government has allocated Rs 51.15 crore annually for the programme. Around 2.45 lakh deliveries take place every year in government hospitals across the State, with each NTR Baby Kit costing Rs 1,400.22.

Each kit will contain a baby bed with mosquito net, baby Macintosh, baby clothes, baby towel, three reusable baby nappies, 200 grams of baby powder, 100 ml baby shampoo, 200 ml baby oil, baby soap, soap box, rattle toy and a kit bag. Satya Kumar said the kits would help ensure warmth, hygiene and safety for newborns and provide essential care items even after families return home from hospital. He said distribution would commence shortly and eligible infants would be covered under the programme.

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The Hans India