INVC,
Delhi,
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare laid the foundation stone of 200 bedded Ambedkar Nagar Hospital in presence of Smt. Sheila Dikshit, the Chief Minister of Delhi yesterday.
Addressing the foundation laying ceremony, Shri Azad said several welfare schemes have been introduced by the Central Government which are implemented by state governments. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram is one of such programmes. Under this scheme, pregnant women are entitled for free drugs and consumables, free diagnostics, free blood whenever required, and free diet up to 3 days for normal delivery and 7 days for C-section. The initiative also provides for free transport from home to institution, between facilities in case of a referral and drop back home. Similar entitlements have been put in place for all sick newborns accessing public health institutions for treatment till 30 days after birth. The JSSK initiative is estimated to benefit more than one crore pregnant women & newborns both in urban & rural areas annually. Universal screening of children called the “Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram” was launched on 6th February 2013. This programme is for Universal Screening of Children for Disorders, Diseases, Deficiencies and Disabilities from birth up to 18 years. It will cover 27 crore children across the country including 17 crore school going children.
Shri Azad said his Ministry launched a health magazine programme called “Swasth Bharat” through 30 regional kendras of Doordarshan and 29 stations of All India Radio covering 27 states. The half an hour programme is telecast/broadcast for five days a week in regional languages at prime time. The objective of the programme is to empower citizens with information on health related issues. A total of 17500 programmes involving 10000 doctors have been telecast/broadcast so far. He appealed people to watch/listen to these programmes to update their knowledge on basic health issues. He also exhorted the people to avail the benefits of various welfare schemes of the central government.
