PUTTAPARTHI: The mother and child programme initiated by the Easwaramma Women’s Welfare Trust was inaugurated by Sri Satya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi recently. The programme recognises the importance of enhancing the health and wellbeing of the mother and provides pre and ante-natal care during the crucial phase of pregnancy and child birth.
The general health condition of several women during pregnancy suffer for lack of proper nutrition resulting in falling of haemoglobin levels below normal. They also develop complications arising out of their inability to seek help due to financial or physical constraints.
Lack of proper transport was another problem faced by many of the women in need of medical aid and this has often resulted in women failing to go for regular medical checkups or emergency care.
Traditionally, women prefer to have deliveries at homes with the assistance of local midwifes. Satya Sai Mother and Child programme addresses these issues by providing holistic care for both the mother and child.
Satya Sai Baba has said ``Health is the foundation on which human life rests. The mother and child project seeks to enshrine these values.’’ And the objectives of the programme have been laid down in accordance to Sai Baba’s vision.
With a view to monitoring and improving the health and nutritional status of expectant mother, a fully-equipped ambulance, is provided by Sai baba and it offers on-the-spot medical care on a monthly basis regularly.
To provide regular pre-natal and ante-natal checkups and medical support during pregnancy, intially, some villages were adopted and in the following months a total of 18 villages would be included. A team of doctors, nurses and devotees now visit these villages every month. Records of both mothers and children will be maintained so that their health conditions are monitored on a continuous and long term basis.
Every mother is presented with a saree from Sai Baba and the new-born child is welcomed into the world with a set of clothes.
Newborns and infants under one year of age will be immunized according to a schedule.
Regular health check ups include a complete schedule of immunization covering all diseases such as TB, polio, measles, and hepatitis B. Nutritional supplements are also made available for the infants.
The mother and child programme works in close conjuction with the Satya Sai General Hospital. Mothers choosing hospital delivery and all cases requiring specialised and emergency care are referred to Satya Sai Baba hospital.