JAIPUR: An Obstetrics Helpline under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched at Bari in Dholpur district of Rajasthan on Tuesday to promote safe motherhood practices. The helpline, started as a pilot project, provides referral transport to pregnant women to facilitate emergency medical care for childbirth.

The helpline, in the shape of a 24-hour telephone service, has been set up at the Community Health Centre in Bari. It is operated by a non-Government organisation, Mangalam, with the assistance of UNICEF and the State Government's Medical and Health Department.

The participants in a function marking the Safe Motherhood Day in Bari, where the helpline was formally inaugurated, called for its replication in other districts in the State. The assistance under the Janani Suraksha Yojana was also disbursed to the beneficiaries on the occasion.

The helpline, on receipt of a call, immediately makes arrangement for a vehicle from the private taxi stand to the village to take the pregnant woman to the Community Health Centre or the district hospital. If a woman reaches the first referral unit on her own, reimbursement of transportation expenditure is made under the Janani Suraksha Yojana.

Shikha Wadhwa of UNICEF pointed out that over 100 women -- mostly poor and illiterate -- in 170 villages, falling in 31 village panchayats of Bari block, had so far benefited from the helpline. The life of as many as 10 women in critical condition was saved by providing timely facility of transport.

The private taxi operators in the area and the owners of other vehicles, such as jeeps and tractors, have provided a significant support in making the helpline a success.

Ms. Wadhwa said the UNICEF was giving training to the grassroot functionaries to make the helpline more effective.

The NRHM Project Director in Rajasthan, Shubhra Singh, said an active collaboration with the NGOs for such initiatives would help deliver quality health services at the grassroot level and ensure safe motherhood and survival of newborn children.

Blood donation camp

Among others, Dholpur Collector J.P. Vimal, Superintendent of Police Praful Kumar, District Medical and Health Officer J.P. Agrawal, UNICEF Project Director Pavitra Mohan, and Ashok Tiwari of Mangalam attended the function.

A blood donation camp was organised on the occasion to collect blood for pregnant women in emergency situations.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail