Chandigarh, Nov. 28 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government is moving quickly to build a dedicated mother-and-child health network, with more than 35 of the planned 45 Mother and Child Care Centers (MCCCs) already operational.
Officials said the centers are intended to cut maternal deaths and bring professional newborn care directly to rural pockets. “No mother or child in Punjab should be left behind,” Mann said, noting that the project is central to his government’s vision of a healthier, “Rangla Punjab.”
The centers are being set up in districts with high anemia and poor maternal indicators. Each facility provides safe delivery services, prenatal and postnatal care, newborn treatment and monitoring for high-risk pregnancies. The Budhlada center in Mansa, built for ₹5.10 crore, was completed “with full transparency,” according to health officials.
The MCCCs work alongside the state’s network of Aam Aadmi Clinics, which now number over 800. These clinics offer 80 free medicines and 41 free diagnostic tests. Recently, free checkups for pregnant women were added. “Basic care is handled at the clinics, while specialized cases go to MCCCs. This makes the system faster and more efficient,” a senior health officer said.
Mann has made unannounced visits to hospitals to address staff shortages and service gaps. “It’s not enough to build the buildings. They must run properly,” he said during one such visit.
The government plans to complete the remaining centers soon. Officials said the project reflects efficient spending and long-term investment in public health. “Healthy families strengthen Punjab’s future. These centers are a foundation for that future,” Mann said.
