Iran’s “Yesna” Program: New Subsidy Details for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers
A new government support initiative, known as the “Yesna” program, is providing targeted subsidies for pregnant and nursing mothers. Designed as a key family health policy, the program aims to enhance nutritional security for mothers and their children under two years of age.
How the Program Works
The subsidy is allocated as a non-cash credit, deposited directly onto the household head’s “Goods and Services Card.” This credit is designated exclusively for the purchase of essential food and hygienic items and cannot be withdrawn as cash. The value of the initial credit allocated to each eligible mother is 1,500,000 Tomans.
Eligibility and Automatic Enrollment
The Ministry of Health is directly responsible for identifying eligible pregnant women. To be included, mothers must register their information at local rural or urban health centers. Following an assessment of the household’s income bracket, eligible families in deciles one through seven (the seven lowest income groups) are automatically enrolled in the program. There is no need for a separate registration process. Priority is given to mothers with infants to ensure greater nutritional support during the breastfeeding period.
A Focus on Essential Goods
According to Ms. Zahra Qayoumi, Director General of the Support and Empowerment Office at the Ministry of Cooperatives, the program is designed to support pregnant mothers and children under two. The subsidy covers a basket of 16 essential items, carefully selected by experts to promote the health of both mother and child. These items include specific food products and diapers.
How to Check Eligibility
Families can check their eligibility for the Yesna program through several official channels:
- Visiting government portals such as
my.gov.irorhemayat.mcls.gov.ir. - Using the USSD code by dialing
*500*1463#and entering the national code of the household head.
The successful implementation of the Yesna program is seen as a significant step toward improving health outcomes for mothers and young children, contingent on the consistent and timely allocation of its financial resources.