By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Health and Family Welfare Department has signed an agreement with three state women taxi drivers on Tuesday to provide free transport to all pregnant women for delivery in government hospitals and also from home to referral hospital.
The health department under the scheme Janati Sisshu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) has taken this initiative to evolve a consensus on the part of all states to provide completely free and cashless service to pregnant women including normal deliveries and caesarean operation and sick new borns in both rural and urban areas.
Under the Scheme, the major entitlements for the pregnant women are free transport from home to health institutions, between facilities in case for referral and free drop from institutions to home after 48 hours stay.
After the signing of the MOU with the women taxi drivers at Directorate of Health Services (DHS) on Tuesday, the State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Rowell Lyngdoh flagged off the women taxis from DHS to get the scheme roll out immediately.
“This scheme will go a long way in ensuring the safety of the pregnant women at the same time prevent them from incurring high out of pocket expenses on delivery and treatment of sick new-born”, Lyngdoh said earlier at a special programme held at DHS office here on Tuesday.
Speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion, Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has underlined a need to develop a sense of self-regulation among the women to curb the problem of high birth rate in the state especially in West Khasi Hills.
“This can only be achieved when all women are well-educated and aware of their responsibility so as to ensure healthy lifestyles among the children and to empower the people economically”, said Dr Sangma.
It was mentioned that prior to the signing of the agreement, a meeting was held with the women taxi drivers on August 10 whereby they have decided that the payment would be made as per the Transport Department approved rate and with regards to areas in and around Shillong a fresh tariff will be made accordingly.
It was also agreed upon that emergency kit would be made available in the taxis operated by women drivers, besides training and orientation programme will also be arranged for handling the patients—pregnant mothers and their attendants on awareness on the scheme and spacing of birth for providing healthy lifestyles among the children.
It was learnt that based on this model, the department will scale up the implementation in other facilities as well.
