No diesel for Nagu Magu ambulance

Mangaluru: The ambulance for the Nagu Magu ambulance service, which was introduced by the government to ensure the safe return of the mother and baby to their home after delivery, remains immobile at Government Lady Goschen Hospital in the city. This is because no funds are available to fill diesel.
The superintendent of the hospital has brought the issue to the notice of the district health and family welfare department.
The department officials immediately sent a request letter to the government seeking funds to buy diesel.
However, the ambulance is still inside its shed even after a week.
The Nagu Magu ambulance service is a very useful service for poor families, as it helped mothers and their newly born offspring to safely return to their homes from hospitals free-of-cost.
When relatives of patients complained about the lack of service, the hospital authorities wrote to the health department officials in the district.
District health and family welfare officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao told TOI that he is aware of the issue and assured that it will be solved soon. “I have already sent a request letter to the government seeking funds to buy diesel for the ambulance. The government is expected to reserve funds for the purchase of diesel soon,” he said.
The government had introduced the Nagu Magu scheme to provide drop facility for post-natal mothers and newborns from government hospitals to their residences in 2014. Accordingly, vehicles are provided one each at the district level and taluk level hospitals in the state.