Dongjak-gu Provides Various Support for the Health of Pregnant Women and Newborns

Depending on the COVID-19 situation, 'Seoul Agi Health First Step' adds online video call service... Annual support of eco-friendly agricultural products worth 480,000 KRW for pregnant women confirmed pregnant or gave birth in 2020

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) is promoting various support measures for the health management of pregnant women and newborns in the region.

First, the childbirth and newborn care service "Seoul Baby Healthy First Step," in which pediatric nurses who have completed specialized training in childbirth and newborn care visit homes to check on and assist mothers and babies, will additionally operate an "online video call service" for pregnant women and infants vulnerable to infectious diseases due to the COVID-19 situation.

Mothers who wish to use the service can access designated online video chat rooms and open chat rooms or call by phone, where professional nurses provide consultations including ▲health checks for pregnant women and infants ▲proper breastfeeding methods ▲soothing and putting the baby to sleep ▲essential information for first-time mothers such as postpartum depression.

The service targets all pregnant women residing in the area, and applications can be made by phone to the Health Management Division or by visiting the Sadang Branch of the Dongjak-gu Public Health Center (253-3 Sadang-ro).

Last year, through the promotion of the "Seoul Baby Healthy First Step Project," the district conducted 1,541 home visits to 1,000 childbirth households in the area and supported a total of 25 mother group activities to strengthen parenting capabilities.

Additionally, the district is implementing the Dongjak-gu specialized project "Haha (Health & Happy) Childcare" targeting health-vulnerable families such as premature infants and mothers at high risk of depression, with a focus on providing professional psychological counseling services for high-risk groups including postpartum depression.

Furthermore, the district is promoting the "Pregnant Women Eco-friendly Agricultural Products Package Support Project" for pregnant women confirmed to be pregnant or have given birth in 2020.

Eco-friendly agricultural products worth 480,000 KRW annually are supported (including a self-payment of 96,000 KRW). Applications can be made by visiting the Economic Promotion Division with a resident registration certificate and pregnancy or birth certificate or through the Seoul Farmer Portal site until December 15.

Kim Hyungsook, head of the Health Management Division, said, "Through this project, we will do our best to safely protect the health of pregnant women and infants even during the COVID-19 situation and to create a happy childbirth culture for both mothers and babies."