Modi promises free medical check-up for pregnant women

NEW DELHI: India’s maternal mortality rate has been on a decline in the last decade but is still a worry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday as he announced a new health scheme —the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan — for pregnant women.

The Prime Minister touched upon various topics such as the forthcoming Rio Olympics 2016, climate change, grim situation of floods in the country.. File photo

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 31

India’s maternal mortality rate has been on a decline in the last decade but is still a worry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday as he announced a new health scheme — the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan — for pregnant women.

Addressing the nation during the 22nd edition of 'Mann ki Baat' on Sunday, the Prime Minister — who touched upon various topics such as the forthcoming Rio Olympics 2016, climate change, grim situation of floods in the country —announced that the scheme that will offer free medical check-ups on the 9th of every month in government health centres.

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"We have started the Prime Minister's Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, under which a free check-up will be given to pregnant women on the 9th of every month in government health centres," Modi said.

Modi called upon doctors across the country to join in the government's mission."Thousands of doctors have heeded to my request for this, but in a big country like India, lakhs of doctors should join the campaign.”

World Bank’s data shows that India’s maternal mortality rate in 2015 was 174, down from 556 recorded in 1990.

He also spoke about the Rio Olympics and asked people to send their best wishes to the Indian contingent to his app —Narendra Modi App.

“Today in Delhi, ‘Run for Rio’ was organised. We will organise many more programmes to encourage our athletes. We extend out best wishes to the Indian contingents that will represent India at Rio, this year. In this, your PM is ready to become your postman. Share your best wishes to the athletes on the ‘Narendra Modi App’,” he said.

The Prime Minister expressed his sorrow at the lives lost to heavy rain and floods in the country.

“A few days ago, we were worrying about drought. Now, on the one hand we hear about monsoon, on the other, we hear about floods. State governments and Centre are working closely to help the flood-affected,” Modi said.

He also spoke of climate change and urged the people to plant as many trees as possible.

Citing Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh as examples, he said the former planned to plant 25 lakh trees and the latter had promised to increase its green cover by 50 per cent by 2029.

He also highlighted health issues, saying diseases like dengue were spreading but cautioned people against the overuse of antibiotics. He also urged the people to stick to the prescriptions given by the doctors and to not stop using the antibiotics as soon as one got better.

Modi also asked his listeners to write to him about they would like him to talk about in his Independence Day speech on August 15.

" I am the first Prime Minister of the country born after Independence...I will address the nation on 15th August. I seek your ideas for my address. Please share them on the mobile app or MyGov," the Prime Minister said. (With inputs from agencies)