Andhra Pradesh: 4,82,219 used Talli-Bidda Express in 2 years

Vijayawada: To improve post-delivery care, the state government launched medical transport service for mother and newborns from the government hospital to drop them safely at their respective houses after delivery. The state government introduced the medical transport service 'Thalli-Bidda Express' on Jan. 1, 2016.  Now, 102 Talli-Bidda (Mother and Child) Express (TBE) are carrying pregnant women to hospitals and dropping them back at home in Andhra Pradesh.

In the last two years, the Talli-Bidda Express crew dropped 4,82,219 lactating mothers and infants, till date, to their destinations. Now, deliveries are also increasing at government hospitals compared to the past. This apart, the government introduced a unique health scheme that ensures expectant mothers undergo medical checkups and receive treatment on time, and without fail. This is a part of the many initiatives the state government is implementing to make sure that pregnant women are healthy.

The government has introduced this transport service in order to encourage institutional deliveries which are safe and most of them would be normal deliveries. Around 4,82,219 pregnant women have access to this service. "Reducing the maternal and infant mortality rate is the first priority for the government.  Providing referral transport to pregnant women is one of the interventions for reducing MMR. In order to ensure the provision of drop back service to every pregnant woman from the hospital till home, a dedicated fleet of 279 vehicles are positioned" said Hemanth Battu, COO, GVK-EMRI.

"We are serving the clients through 250 Omnis and 29 Bolero vehicles to the interior places of tribal areas." People are using the services of Talli-Bidda Express frequently. The utilisation of this service is high in East Godavari district and the lowest in Nellore.  The four districts of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Chittoor and Kurnool crossed 50,000 mark in utilisation of Talli-Bidda Express service.  

Over 300 captains (drivers of 102) are serving lactating mothers and infants from 8 am to 6 pm and at times, the timings may get pushed, if they go to drop in tribal areas. "In terms of percentage, the discharge from government hospitals is about 80 per cent. In January, we attended 95 per cent cases in Prakasam and Nellore, 80 per cent in Visakhapatnam," said Hemath Battu, COO, GVK-EMRI.