Lucknow: A private medical college on Thursday launched a maternal and child healthcare initiative under which normal and caesarean deliveries will be provided free. Under ‘Shishu Maa Suraksha (SMS) Yojana’, pregnant women will receive free services, including medicines, diagnostic tests, surgery, hospital stay and meals at the time of admission, labour and post partum care.The hospital said women undergoing normal or C-section delivery will receive Rs 2,500 financial assistance and baby care kit at the time of discharge from hospital. The scheme aims to encourage institutional deliveries and reduce maternal and infant mortality and remove financial barriers faced by all, irrespective of income groups or eligibility under any govt scheme.Head of obstetrics and gynaecology department in Era Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Dr S P Jaiswar, said it was all to promote safe motherhood among economically weaker sections and normal deliveries and treatment for various illnesses free of cost.
