Nellore (AP) (PTI): When their two-month old child was diagnosed with serious form of meningitis, a viral brain fever, parents Pravallika and Suresh, both daily wage labourers, could ill afford his treatment.

Gruelling visits to hospitals and doctors were what would have followed but for the insurance scheme introduced by the Andhra Pradesh Government.

The 'Rajiv Aarogyasri Community Health Insurance Scheme', being implemented through public-private partnership mode is a trail blazer in many ways.

Women self-help groups called 'Aarogya Mitra', who have formed an efficient network, visit hospitals and doctors and get in touch with the patients directly and make sure that they receive treatment free of cost.

Doctors told the couple that the infection can spread into the brain tissue and cause brain damage. The hapless couple heaved a sigh of relief when they came to know about the scheme through 'Aarogya Mitra'.

Later, they enrolled in the scheme and their child was operated free of cost at a private hospital. The two-month- old's life was saved through the Aarogyasri scheme which provides financial protection to all families living below poverty line up to Rs two lakh in a year for serious ailments requiring hospitalisation and surgery.

"The innovative and unique scheme was launched with an aim to improve access of BPL families to quality medical care for treatment of identified diseases involving hospitalisation, surgery and therapies, through an identified network of health care providers," A Babu, Chief Executive Officer, Aarogyasri Health Trust, said.