LAHORE:
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched an ‘Aghosh’ programme to provide medical facilities and financial support to pregnant women and mothers of children under the age of two years.
She was informed during a briefing that women of 13 districts would get assistance money in the first phase of the programme. The districts are Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Rajanpur, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahalangar, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Khushab and Lodhran.”
Each pregnant woman would be paid Rs2,000 on her registration at a health centre and continue receiving the assistance money on her visits for regular medical check-ups until childbirth.
“After free medical check-ups at the health centres, assistance money will be given by the cash agents of the Aghosh programme,” the chief minister said.
She said, “Pregnant women will get Rs1,500 for each visit to the health centre and the total amount will be Rs6,000. A gift of Rs4,000 will be given on the birth of a child at the health centre.” Another Rs2,000 will be paid on the first medical examination within 15 days after birth.
The chief minister said Rs5,000 would also be paid on registering for the birth certificate at the health centre.
In addition, Rs4,000 will be given in instalments of Rs2,000 each for getting a newborn child immunised.
