The maternity hospitals being remodelled in seven zones of the Chennai Corporation will become fully operational in December, Mayor M. Subramanian said here on Thursday.
The Corporation has a 24-hour maternity hospital in each of its 10 zones and the facilities in Sanjeevaroyanpet, Pulianthope, Shenoy Nagar, Meersahibpet, Vadapalani, Saidapet and Adyar are being remodelled. As part of the project, at a total cost of Rs.16.6 crore, the facilities at the hospitals are being improved.
Mr. Subramanian announced this at the launch of free nutritious meal for mothers at its hospitals. “The number of births in the corporation maternity hospitals has increased from 8,000 in 2006 to 16,503 last year. This year the number of births is expected to touch 18,000.”
The hospitals would have paediatric and outpatient blocks, intensive care unit, lift and ramp for the benefit of the pregnant women.
Over 5,000 caesarean deliveries are carried out at the maternity hospitals every year and all of such mothers would be given free nutritious meals for five days. For normal delivery, meals would be supplied to mothers for three days.
The nutritious meals would be supplied four times a day. It would include vegetables, fruits, pulses, cereals and milk. Self Help Groups have been given the responsibility of preparing the food for the mothers at a total cost of Rs.55 lakh a year. During pregnancy, blood tests are conducted free at the hospitals.
A total of 1,000 babies named in Tamil would receive rings from Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi shortly, said Mr. Subramanian. Chennai Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni participated.
