State government launches helpline for expectant mothers

The State government, on Monday, launched the helpline ‘Vatsalya Vani-104’ to provide information about maternal and neonatal care to expectant mothers.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative in the City, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, U T Khader said, “Our aim is to bring down the number of infant and maternal deaths in the State to single digits. An initiative like the Vatsalya Vani will help us achieve this goal.”
The helpline has been set up to monitor the health of pregnant women, provide them information about various health initiatives that the State has introduced and track high-risk pregnancy cases and also babies with low birth weight.

“Expectant mothers usually undergo a lot of mental stress. This initiative has been taken to instil confidence in them. Our concern is to ensure safe childbirth methods and best neonatal care,” he added. Khader said that high-risk pregnancy cases could be identified.

To ensure timely co-ordination and better communication between the Accredited Social Health Activist (Asha) workers, medical attenders and pregnant women, the government has also enabled the conference call facility.

On the occasion, Khader also said that a honorarium would be given to Asha workers at the beginning of the month. “This amount will be credited to their bank accounts directly,” he added.