Bhubaneswar: The healthcare scenario in Odisha is slowly but surely getting a remarkable transformation thanks to the proactive steps being taken by the Government of Odisha. At a time when other states are struggling to achieve the set goals for providing maternity benefits, Odisha is leading the way by improved coverage in rural as well as in urban areas.
The Jaccha Baccha Survey 2019 conducted in six Indian states of Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh has given interesting facts in relation to the benefits being given to pregnant and nursing women.
According to the survey, Odisha, often clubbed with the BIMARU states, has been making steady progress in matters of food security, child nutrition and public health. This time, once again, the survey has found important signs of hope in Odisha. For instance, Odisha has its own maternity benefit scheme called the Mamata scheme. This scheme covers two births, not one, and seems to work relatively well. Among the nursing women interviewed in the survey, 88% of those who were eligible for Mamata had applied, and 75% of those who had applied had received at least one installment.
The survey has also appreciated the supply of eggs to the beneficiaries. It said, “It is raining eggs in Odisha’s Anganwadis. Not only do children aged between 3-6 years get an egg 5 times a week with their midday meal, eggs are also distributed as “take-home ration” (THR) for younger children as well as pregnant and nursing women. And of course, eggs are also on the menu in primary and upper-primary schools.”
Judging from the survey, the reach of ICDS services is relatively good in Odisha, with near-universal coverage of basic services i.e., health checkup, tetanus injections, iron & folic acid tablets, food supplements etc. among pregnant and nursing women registered at the anganwadi Kendras.
The JABS survey found that Odisha is the only survey state where a majority of the respondent households were covered under some form of health insurance – RSBY, Ayushman Bharat or the state’s own health insurance scheme (Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, launched in 2018).
The survey also appreciated the state for the signs of positive change such as brightly painted Anganwadi Kendras, breakfast for the kids, a pre-school education syllabus, and collaboration between Anganwadi and health workers.
With improved healthcare infrastructure in all community and district hospitals along with the reach of ambulance to the nook and corner of the state, the state has been successfully trying to minimize the incidents of MMR rate.
With a clear-cut vision to provide free healthcare facilities for all, Odisha Government has taken a number of steps that are now resulting in positive changes.
The government has been sanctioning more funds for improving facilities at the Anganwadi kendras and try to transform them into state of the art child care centers.
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