Koraput: A joint review meeting of the Health Department and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) was held at Sadbhavana Conference Hall in Koraput, chaired by District Collector V. Keerthi Vasan.
The meeting, conducted under the supervision of Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer Dr. Rabindra Kumar Mishra, mainly focused on rural healthcare delivery systems.
The Collector introduced a special initiative under the Janmasri Yojana, where free ultrasound check-ups at regular intervals for every pregnant woman in the district would be ensured. This initiative aims to benefit poor pregnant women in rural areas, and special emphasis was placed on its importance.
Discussions were also held on improving the infrastructure and services of Primary Health Centers, Community Health Centers, Urban Health Centers, and ANM centers, with a special focus on reducing maternal and infant mortality rates and enhancing health service delivery in remote rural regions.
With the upcoming monsoon season, the Collector stressed the importance of maintaining adequate stocks of essential medicines and ensuring coordination among grassroots-level health workers, Anganwadi workers, and ASHA workers. He instructed departmental officers to ensure they carry out their duties efficiently.
The implementation and effectiveness of the Janmasri Yojana, which was initiated by the Collector himself, were reviewed in detail. He laid stress on further reducing maternal and infant mortality by establishing more Maternity Waiting Homes (Maa Ghars) across the district, especially in areas facing transportation issues.
He proposed that pregnant women from such difficult-to-reach regions should be shifted to Maa Ghars 15–20 days prior to their expected delivery date to ensure their safety and proper care. The Collector explained that since ambulance and mobile network services might not be accessible during the rainy season in remote villages, early relocation to Maa Ghars can significantly reduce the risks for both mother and child. He issued strict instructions to prioritize this strategy.