Manisha (name changed) was discharged from the Vanivilas Hospital post childbirth on Thursday. However, to collect the Madilu kit, the nursing mother has been asked to come back from Devanahalli after 10 days.
The ‘Madilu kit’ is given by the State government to nursing mothers to ensure better postnatal care for mother and child. However, the kits have gone out of stock at the Vanivilas Hospital.
Speaking with Deccan Herald, sources in the hospital said that this was the situation for the past two months. Nursing mothers were asked to return with an acknowledgement slip given to them. Boards are displayed across the Hospital premises informing the public that the kits are out of stock and that they will be distributed once the stock is replenished.
Manisha said: “I am staying in Devanahalli. Travelling all the way to the City just to collect the kit will be tough,” she said.
The kits are distributed to mothers from families below the poverty line and have delivered in government hospitals. Also, the benefit is available for two live deliveries. The kit contains various essential products that are required during the postnatal care, such as a mosquito curtain, carpet, bedsheet and thick blanket for mother, soaps for mother and the newborn, sweater, cap and socks for baby, among others.
‘Thayi card’ unavailable
Manisha was not even given the ‘Thayi cards’ as even they have run out of stock. “I have been given a xerox copy of the card and have been asked to manage with it for the time being. Other patients too have been asked to enter their details in the xerox copies of the cards,” she added.
The State government’s initiative for maternal care and child health could well come a cropper under such conditions. Each ‘Thayi card’ carries a unique number, which helps the government track the success of the scheme. The ‘Thayi card’ is handed over to the expecting mothers during the registration of their first ante-natal care. The details of the ‘Thayi cards’ will be recorded in the Health department’s database.
Dr Gangadhar Belavadi, medical superintendent, Vanivilas Hospital, said: “We will hand over the kit as soon as we receive them. We are yet to receive the stock.”
Dr H C Ramesh, director, Department of Health and Family Welfare, denied that the kits and the cards were out of stock. “There may be temporary issues like excess stock being sent to some other hospital. If that is the case, it will soon be sorted out. Fresh stock will be sent to the Vanivilas Hospital,” he added.