- The Lopamudra Charitable Trust strives to tackle the issue of inadequate healthcare facilities in underprivileged communities.
- The NGO started the maternity service initiative primarily for 1008 pregnant women.
- The trust's healthcare program offers free delivery services to women in need during pregnancy and childbirth.
- To execute the program, they will collaborate with local healthcare providers and the Trust's assistance will be delivered in three phases.
Hyderabad, 10 April 2023: Mrs Madhavi Latha Kompella, Founder and Chairman of Lopamudra Charitable Trust & Chairperson of Virinchi Hospitals launched the 1008 Free delivery service for Unprivileged pregnant women in an event organised at Virinchi corporate office, Raod No. 01, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad on 10th April, 2023.
In her address, she explained Lopamudra Charitable Trust's views and objectives on their initiative. Lopamudra Charitable Trust is an NGO that strives to tackle the issue of inadequate healthcare facilities in underprivileged communities, particularly for women and children in the old city of Hyderabad.
She said that the trust's healthcare program offers free delivery services to women in need, thereby addressing the challenges they face in accessing quality healthcare services during pregnancy and childbirth. The target population for this proposal are underprivileged women who cannot afford the cost of maternity care. This includes women living in poverty, those without access to health insurance, and those living in urban slums or remote areas.
She further said that this program has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of underprivileged communities by reducing maternal and child mortality rates in the old city of Hyderabad.
In India, the govt. provides free health cards to individuals living below the poverty line to access healthcare services. However, the provision of these health cards is often inadequate, taking up to 10 months to a year to receive them. In addition to the above, it is important to note that deliveries are not included in any health cards. While there are govt hospitals that provide maternity services throughout Hyderabad, the sheer size of the population and the number of patients can overwhelm these facilities, resulting in overcrowding, long waiting times, and shortages of medical staff and equipment. These obstacles can result in delays in receiving medical care, leading to severe consequences for both the mother's and the child's health, She said.
Inspired by the significance of the number 1008 in Hindu mythology, which represents the multitude of divine names and forms that we use to praise and worship our gods and goddesses, the Trust transcends caste, creed, and religion to support women in the phase of pregnancy and seeks to document and celebrate the diverse experiences of 1008 unique women during this beautiful and transformative period of their lives.
To execute the program, they will collaborate with local healthcare providers (Asha Workers) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They, the Trust's assistance will be delivered in three phases. During the pre-delivery phase, they will ensure that the expectant mother is well-nourished and all essential check-ups, diagnostics, and medicines will be arranged on time through free medical camps held at various locations in the old city of Hyderabad, which are easily accessible to pregnant women.
The second phase is “Delivery” childbirth by experienced medical professionals who prioritize the safety and well-being of both the mother and baby, closely monitoring the childbirth process and managing any potential complications.
And the last phase is “Postnatal care” (post-delivery care), which includes the baby's first vaccination shot, in addition to gifting the newborn's family with a hamper containing a baby's bed, blanket, mosquito net, cradle, handmade cotton napkins/diapers, olive oil for baby massage, an ear-cleaning hand pump, a scarf for the mother.
The program's primary objective is to improve the lives of underprivileged communities in the old city of Hyderabad by reducing maternal and child mortality rates and also it aims to promote positive health-seeking behaviours through health education sessions, emphasizing the importance of nutrition, mother and child health, and the benefits of Antenatal Care (ANC) and Postnatal Care (PNC).