VASCO/PANAJI
In a novel move, the health department on Saturday introduced a free service to drop all mothers and their new-borns to their homes after post-delivery discharge from State-run hospitals.
Health Minister Vishwajit P Rane on Saturday launched two Drop Back vehicles under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) project and 10 replacement 108 Ambulances.
Addressing a gathering in Valpoi on Saturday, Rane said the Drop Back service will cater to mothers who will be dropped home from the hospital post-delivery and this service will be free of cost.
“Efforts are being made to provide quality health facilities to the people in the State. People have benefited a lot from the 108 service so far and this 108 facility is becoming very important especially to people of rural areas,” said Rane.
“When the 108 ambulance services were started, people did not have information about these facilities. Today, this 108 service has become an integral part in the lives of people in rural areas.”
“Since vehicles provided under the 108 service are old, measures have been taken to provide replacement vehicles. In the first phase, ten 108 vehicles have been made available and vehicles will be made available in a phased manner,” said Rane.
Others present on the occasion included Dr Rajendra Borkar, Dr Uttam Desai, Dr Shyam Kankonkar, Dr Rupchand Navelkar Dr Abhijit Wadkar, VMC Chairperson Sehzeen Sheikh, Sagun Wadkar, Devyani Gawas, and other elected representatives of Valpoi town and panchayats.
VMC Chairperson Sehzin Shaikh said the 108 service has benefited people all over Sattari taluka.
“Earlier, people in rural areas would facing various difficulties in reaching a nearby hospital and now, the 108 ambulance has made it possible for people to reach hospitals in quick time,” Shaikh added.
