19:51 20 April 2016
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon plans to give new mothers “baby box” that contains built-in mattress, toys, nappies, and clothes. The initiative is based on Finland’s 80-year-old scheme that drastically reduced infant mortality rates.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The baby box is such a simple idea but has been proven to have a real impact, reducing child mortality and helping families at the start of a child’s life.
“By providing every new-born with a baby box we can help child health – and by providing greater support to new family we will also help tackle child poverty and improve the chances of some of our most deprived children.
"Alongside the material and financial support we will deliver, it is important that parents get advice when they need it - and we'll recruit 500 new health visitors by 2018 to better-support Scotland's families and further extend the family nurse partnership, which supports some of our youngest and most vulnerable parents."
“Our manifesto will set out plans to transform Scotland and to ensure all our children have an equal start to life,” added Ms Sturgeon.