Assam has recorded 50 per cent increase in rate of vaccination of mother and child during last two years following introduction of health clinics on boats in its riverine areas. The programme was launched under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) on public- private partnership mode three years back.Official sources said 15 such clinics called ‘Ships of Hope’ are now successfully providing preventive and primitive health services to the poor in 13 flood-prone districts of the state. More than 24 lakh of the state’s total 2 crore 66 lakh population reside in 2,251 riverine villages-known a Char areas. A Boat Clinic, costing over 32 lakh rupees, includes space for outdoor patient (OPD), doctor’s cabin, medicine chest, kitchen, general store, toilets, a generator set and a 200 litre water reservoir.Besides antenatal, post-natal and general check ups, immunization of children against Japanese encephalitis and emergency preparedness and response in case of flood situation are being carried out by these boat clinics.