Belagavi: Parvati Naik, a resident of Joida town in Uttara Kannada district, has been receiving regular health check-ups, nutritious food and medicine, courtesy a noble initiative undertaken by the district administration, as she awaits the birth of her first child. She is among the 358 women who have been adopted by district officials as part of the initiative to provide highest care to expectant mother and their newborns.

“After I have got adopted, I am being examined regularly, getting nutritious food grain, milk, eggs, prescribed medicine etc. through ASHA workers,” Naik told HT, expressing her gratitude towards the officials for their initiative, which helps in reducing the financial burden of poor families.

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According to the district’s women and child welfare department, the state’s first-of-its-kind initiative is aimed at reducing the death rate of women during and post-pregnancy, as well as that of the newborn. As part of the initiative, higher-rank officials of the Uttara Kannada district administration adopt one pregnant woman each who are registered under the national health mission scheme, officials said.

“Officials of various departments have, on their own, adopted one pregnant woman each to take care of them until post-childbirth. The district has 358 such registered women,” Uttara Kannada deputy commissioner Gangubai Mankar said. “I’m very glad that every officer, without any force or compulsion, has adopted a pregnant woman after I briefed them about my concept at a meeting. I hope it finds success in the district and is extended to the entire state.”

Under the adoption scheme, officials not only take complete care of pregnant women till the time of childbirth, but also extend the care to the newborns by remaining in regular touch with doctors and health workers like ASHA, officials said.

Compared to a few other districts in severely drought-hit Kalyana-Karnataka region, the malnutrition rate among children is quite low in Uttara Kannada,

“In a district which falls under the Western ghats in the coastal region, adjoining Belagavi district, we aim to eradicate malnutrition among the newborns and the mothers by supplying solid food, egg, milk, calcium tablets among other things,” Mankar said. “Apart from the adopted women, officials will keep record of the latest health status of the newborns’ weight, giving them the regular vaccination.”

The deputy commissioner also praised the contributions of anganwadi and ASHA workers in the initiative.

“Right from the early pregnancy period, anaganwadi and ASHA workers visit the on regular intervals, take them to the hospitals, provide Tayi Card [mother card that record every health-related matter until delivery], supply prescribed medicine and recommended food grain until the women return to their routine life post the childbirth,” she added.

Gangubai Mankar, who has also adopted a poor woman from Mallapur village, said officials are being in touch with the women, their families and also the consultant doctors.