Janani Express at service of more women in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: May 13, 2010

Here's good news for pregnant women in Madhya Pradesh's rural areas. A free service to take them to a hospital for delivery is set to be extended to all 50 districts of the state that has a high maternal mortality ratio. The 24 x 7 call centres under the Janani Express - the ambulance service for pregnant women - are currently available only in 10 districts. "We are extending the services to all 50 districts this year considering its usefulness," said Health Secretary S.R. Mohanty. The move comes after a rise in the number of women availing themselves of the facility and an increase in the number of institutional deliveries in the state, which has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios (MMR) in the country at 335 per 100,000 live births.

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