CM bats for zero infant mortality rate

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said that financial assistance given by the government at the time of delivery of pregnant women and issuing of KCR Kits should impart good healthy habits to both the mother and the child.

The Chief Minister hoped that in the State there should be zero infant mortality rate and the future generation should grow up hale and hearty.The Chief Minister held a review meeting on the Rs 12,000 financial assistance given by the government to the poor pregnant woman who will have her delivery in government hospitals as well as supply of KCR Kits to the infants.

Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary SP Singh, Senior officers Shanti Kumari, Vakati Karuna, Smita Sabharwal, Priyanka Varghese and others participated in the meeting. The Chief Minister has examined the items given through KCR Kits.

Mosquito mesh, soaps, shampoos, powders, towels, diapers and others items formed part of the KCR Kits. Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Vakati Karuna informed that tenders had already been called for the supply of kits and KCR Kits would be supplied from May.

The Chief Minister has constituted a committee with senior women officials to prepare an action plan for the implementation of Rs 12,000 financial assistance, KCR Kits and Ammavadi programme. The committee includes Shanti Kumari, Vakati Karuna, Smita Sabharwal, Priyanka Varghese and Yogita Rana.

“The poor pregnant women are going for their daily wage work even at the advanced stage of pregnancy to run their families. This is not only causing adverse affects on their health but also badly affecting health of the newborn. The women should not go to work when they are at the advance stage of pregnancy till the child becomes two to three months old. This is the reason why we have decided to give financial assistance,” he said.

Rs 12,000 per person would be given to each and every pregnant woman who goes for delivery in government hospitals. However, the officials should finalise on how many instalments the financial assistance given and from which time. Rs 1000 will be given additionally if the newborn is a girl child.

Names of the pregnant women should be registered. They should be undergoing medical tests at regular intervals. They should be supplied with the required medicines. We have Anganwadi teachers, ANMs and Asha workers and find out how we can enlist their services. Rs 12,000 scheme should be implemented properly.

“We are giving this financial assistance so that the poor pregnant women will have their deliveries in the government hospitals. Through KCR Kits, infants will have a healthy upbringing. Both the mother and the child will get discipline on health. Infant mortality will come down. The mother and the child will be healthy as they come to hospitals regularly to get their medicines and vaccines,” the Chief Minister said.