Berhampur: The district administration in Ganjam on Monday launched a free auto-rickshaw ambulance service to transport pregnant women and infants below one year of age from remote areas to nearby healthcare facilities.
The initiative, named ‘Nirikhyana Sathi’, was inaugurated by Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vassan at Mangalpur village. Under the programme, the cost of transportation will be covered through Red Cross funds, ensuring that beneficiaries can access medical services without financial burden.
Officials said the service will initially cover 247 villages across 12 blocks in the district, with around 100 auto-rickshaws deployed for the purpose. The move is aimed at bridging last-mile connectivity gaps in rural healthcare access, particularly for expectant mothers and newborns.
The ‘Nirikhyana Sathi’ initiative builds upon the district’s earlier ‘Nirikhyana’ programme launched in 2023, which provides free ultrasound services to pregnant women.
Chief District Medical Officer Bhabani Shankar Mishra said the combined interventions have already yielded positive outcomes. According to the administration, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in Ganjam have shown a significant decline since the rollout of the ‘Nirikhyana’ programme.
The district administration expects the new transport initiative to further strengthen maternal and child healthcare delivery in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.
