The state government has commenced three new health programmes from Tuesday on a pilot basis at Bhadrachalam and Khammam. The projects include Sishu Sanjeevani (special care for newborn babies) to cut down on infant mortality rate; Akshya project (nutrition rehabilitation centres for thousands of children with malnutrition); and Amma-kulana (support for mothers) a screening programme for pregnant mothers.
Elaborating on project funded by National Rural Health Mission, which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister on Tuesday, Praveen Prakash, commissioner of health and family welfare said, “Under the Sishu Sanjeevani project, 44 special care units for newborns will be flagged off in Teaching, Area and District Hospitals. The 12 to 24-bed units will have four trained staff including a paediatrician, staff nurses and lab technician, along with relevant equipment to take care of high risk and sick newborns.” The aim of the programme is to reduce infant mortality, which, as per the latest registration survey, is 46/1000 live births or 66,000 deaths per year.
Under the Akshya project, 33 nutritional rehabilitation centres with 10 to 20 beds are being set up in hospitals in rural and tribal areas. The centres will have a medical officer, staff nurse and nutritionist for clinical management and monitoring the growth of children. Even mothers, who bring their children to the NRCs would be compensated for any wage loss, informed Mr Prakash. Cases of child malnutrition-related deaths in AP are the highest among the southern states, with 52 per cent children dying.
The Ammakulana programme was also inaugurated at Bhadrachalam Area Hospital on Tuesday. It entails ante-natal check-up of pregnant women and regular mobile alerts and services by health advisors, added the commissioner.