102-drop back service receives good response and fleet to be increased

The service drops back the mothers and infants to their homes for free, after they are declared medically fit. Official sources said that the vehicles help around 12,000 mothers and their babies every month across the state. 

According to them, the 102-vehicles in minimum numbers were operated last year and they carried around 1,000 mothers and babies. P Ruban Santhosh, Programme Manager, IRCS (TN chapter), said the necessity to increase the 102-fleet was felt, when they received feedback from GHs across the state. “When it was launched, it was a boon for mothers in rural areas. However, things are opposite now, as even mothers in urban areas have started using the service,” he said. 

At present, as many as 110 such vehicles cater to a total of 22 Government Medical College Hospitals, 32 district headquarters hospitals and Urban Public Health Centres (UPHC). 

Meanwhile, mothers are expressing satisfaction after using the facility. “Earlier, we had to hire a taxi or an auto to travel home, along with our babies and relatives. This facility has made the travel comfortable and also reduced the risks at no cost,” said K Latha, who delivered a baby at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Egmore. 

On being contacted by DT Next, P Uma Maheswari, Project Director, TNHSP, said that there has been good response from the public for 102- services and mothers are also willing to travel in the eight-seater vehicle. “We will seek more vehicles from ‘National Health Mission’ during our meeting next month,” she added.