Institutional deliveries in TN stand at 99.9 per cent, says Health Minister

Addressing reporters in Pudukkottai on Sunday, Vijaya Baskar said that at present there are 8,700 Village Health Nurses (VHN) and a scheme, Double VHN system, had been approved by the state government to double the number of nurses in the villages. Soon, the nurses would cover all the villages and they would bring women to hospitals to deliver their babies.

He also said that in Tamil Nadu, 70 per cent of the deliveries happen in the government hospitals and only the remaining 30 per cent happen in private hospitals. This shows the amount of trust that people have on the government hospitals.

Vijaya Baskar also assured that strict action would be taken on those who misguide the people in delivering the babies at homes. The Health Department will file a complaint against such people, he said.

Meanwhile, the incidents of delivering babies at home are stray incidents in the state and they will be abolished completely, said Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in Theni on Sunday. Addressing reporters, Panneerselvam said that only when a baby is delivered in a hospital both the baby and the mother would be healthy.

There is a rule in the state which prohibits unsafe deliveries at the houses and these incidents happen without the knowledge of the state government. 

Deputy Chief Minister Panneerselvam also promised stern action against those who opt for unsafe deliveries at their houses and those who promote it.