BHUBANESWAR: The State Government is all set to roll out 102 ambulance service, a dedicated referral transport for pregnant women, newborn and infants, in July this year.
The service will complement the 108 Emergency Ambulance service and will be launched in all districts simultaneously. More than 500 ambulance will be deployed under the service at a ratio of one vehicle per 50,000 population.
The existing Janani Express fleet will be merged with the new referral transport system that will specifically deal with emergency healthcare requirements of pregnant women, new mothers, newborn and infants. The service will be available round-the-clock on call through the 102 toll-free number. The vehicles will be fitted with GPS systems and critical life saving equipment, Managing Director of NHM Roopa Mishra said here on Saturday. “This service will be a vital cog in the efforts for bringing down maternal, neonatal and infant mortality rates in the State. By ensuring timely shifting of patients to the medical centres, it will save numerous lives”, she observed.
The referral transport will also be used for child health interventions as taking malnourished children and mothers to the Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres and back. There are around 39 NRCs established across the State to provide rehabilitation besides monitoring growth of children suffering from malnutrition and providing proper counselling to their parents. As many as 5058 children have been admitted to the centres till date of which 2865 cases discharged with 15 per cent weight gain.
The State has also firmed up plans to operationalise the 104 Health helpline for providing medical consultations over phone to the needy public.