The state government is all set to take a big step towards reducing deaths of pregnant women and new borns by expanding maternal and child health services in government hospitals. The government will increase the services through two new MCH (Mother and Child Healthcare) blocks in Guntur and Kakinada government general hospitals (GGHs). The Minister of Health and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav has approved the purchase of medical equipment and other essential items in these two blocks at a cost of Rs.51.33 crores. A total of 5,687 equipment of 332 varieties will be purchased.

The new MCH block which is being constructed at a cost of Rs.86 crore with the financial assistance of alumni at Guntur GGH is expected to be completed soon. Similarly, another MCH block which is under construction at a cost of Rs.46 crore in collaboration with the alumni of Rangaraya Medical College in Kakinada will also be completed soon. Both these blocks will offer services with 500 beds each. At Guntur GGH, 1,187 devices of 37 varieties will be distributed at a cost of Rs 23.51 crores. Kakinada GGH will have 4,500 devices of 295 varieties at a cost of Rs 27.82 crores.

For these new blocks, a variety of medical equipment like beds, beds, ICU beds, patient monitors, ventilators, ECG machines, mobile X-ray units, mobile ultrasound machines, nebulizers, delivery sets, oximeters, phototherapy units, surgical chairs, etc. will be purchased on a large scale. Minister Sathyakumar Yadav congratulated Guntur Medical College Alumni of North America (GMCANA) and Kakinada Rangaraya Medical College Alumni of North America (RMCANA) for coming forward for the construction of MCH blocks in these two hospitals. The minister also appreciated the principals, superintendents and staff who worked hard for the construction of these blocks.