In a new initiative on maternal and child health benefits, a scheme to provide free delivery, medicines, diet and other facilities to poor women will be launched by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi June 1.
To be initiated in Mewat district of Haryana, the scheme will ensure free health care, nutritious food, treatment and transportation to all pregnant women who go to government facilities for delivery and to the newborns as well.
‘It’s an attempt to tackle the huge maternal mortality and infant mortality rates in the country,’ a health ministry official said.
The facilities include free caesarean and facilities of transport for home to health unit and back for checkups. A toll free line will be established in states for booking the free transport.
