The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Medical care sought for pregnant women

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 07, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Medical care sought for pregnant women

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 6. The State Commission for Women has recommended that a special enumeration of pregnant women and lactating mothers in tsunami hit areas be taken up. "Special relief packages, including full nutritional support must be offered to them all through pregnancy/lactating period," it said.

The Commission said it consulted a few Non-Governmental Organisations working in the tsunami-hit areas. The psychological damage caused to pregnant women must be assessed and special medical care, including counselling must be offered free of cost.

The government-run liquor shops in the areas, including Chennai, should be closed. "TASMAC stores in the affected areas are reported to be having a roaring sale due to men making a beeline to them, with the relief amount in their hands and to get over the tsunami gloom. Those in the affected areas must be closed for at least a month," it recommended.

To ensure that the relief amount benefits the family, it should be paid to the woman of the household. Also, loans to self-help groups functioning in the fishermen community should be written off.

Toilets should be constructed all along the coast in the affected areas. Protected water supply must be ensured, it said.

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