Berhampur: Ganjam district administration on Monday launched the free auto-ambulance services to ferry pregnant women and children under one-year of age from remote and unconnected areas of the district to the nearby health centres.Named “Nirikhyana Sathi”, the initiative aims at smooth institutional delivery of the pregnant women in remote areas, where ambulances cannot reach. It was inaugurated by Ganjam collector V.Keerthi Vassan at Mangalpur village under Dharakote block. District parishad president Anjali Swain was also present.The designated auto-ambulance will carry the pregnant woman from her village to the nearby hospital thrice for ultrasound tests and for delivery. The district administration will provide the fare of the auto-ambulance from the district Red Cross funds, said the collector. The district administration launched Nirikhyana to facilitate free ultrasound facilities for pregnant women from 2023.Under Nirikhyana Sathi, the Whatsapp numbers of the auto-ambulance drivers would be provided to the expectant mothers and Asha workers. They will call the auto-ambulance driver at the time of need to carry the woman or their infant to the nearby health care institute. The administration has identified 247 villages in 12 blocks to provide the auto-ambulance services.Around 100 auto-rickshaws would be engaged for this purpose, said Bhabani Shankar Mishra, chief district medical officer (CDMO). The selected auto-rickshaws would be provided with stickers as Nirikhyana Sathi for their identification.The auto-ambulance service facilities would be provided to Patrapur (85 villages), Sorada (69), Jagannath Prasad (17), Digapahandi (19), Dharakote (24) Bhanjanagar (7), Beguniapada (6), Buguda (4), Chikiti (3), Aska (3), Polasara (5) and Sanakhemundi (5), sources said. After the launching of Nirikhyana, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) has been reduced significantly in the district. The proposed Nirikhyana Sathi will help the expectant mothers to reach the health centers smoothly, said the collector.An app has been developed for the Nirikhyana programme. The pregnant women are receiving alerts for important tests, including ultrasound during their pregnancy period. The district administration has facilitated for free ultrasound tests thrice. The initiation of the district got a prestigious SKOCH award last year.
