The Detroit Health Department launched Rides to Care, offering free Uber rides to medical appointments for pregnant women and new mothers. 

The Detroit Health Department has announced a new program called Rides to Care, which is aimed at ensuring all women in Detroit who are pregnant or caring for an infant up to one year old have transportation to their doctor visits. The program was introduced by Mayor Mike Duggan and Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo following recent approval from the city council.

About Rides to Care

Rides to Care offers free transportation to and from prenatal doctor visits, postpartum visits for a full year, and one year of pediatric visits for the baby. The service operates from Monday to Saturday, covering healthcare providers located in Detroit and up to five miles outside the city. The goal behind the program is to overcome transportation barriers that can prevent expectant mothers and their babies from receiving essential care.

Mayor Duggan expressed his belief that the program will provide assurance to every expectant mother and new mom in Detroit that they can attend their prenatal or postnatal appointments, giving their baby the best start in life. The Rides to Care program is facilitated through a partnership between the Detroit Health Department and Uber Health, a branch of Uber that provides non-emergency medical transportation.

How to use it

To take advantage of the service, eligible users can call the ‘Rides to Care’ call center at 313-876-0000 to book free roundtrip transportation to their doctor’s appointments. The program was given the green light following the city council’s approval of a $650,000 contract with Uber Health to provide the transportation services for one year. The program expands upon the transportation access previously provided on a limited basis by the SisterFriends program.

For more information about the ‘Rides to Care’ program, Detroit residents can call (313) 876-0000 or visit detroitmi.gov/RidesToCare.

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This story was generated in part by AI and edited by The ‘Gander staff.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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