The Centre on Monday launched the Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK), a unified child healthcare programme that will for the first time introduce a risk-stratified approach, providing intensified follow-up for newborns and children identified as "at-risk".
Under the programme, newborns will receive up to nine home visits during the first 42 days of life, while at-risk children will receive up to eight home visits till the age of 36 months, according to the Union Health Ministry.Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched the programme at the 16th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) at Vigyan Bhawan.
He said the government has significantly strengthened the country’s healthcare system by expanding primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services.The programme would integrate the existing Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care for Young Child (HBYC) initiatives to provide a continuum of care for children from birth to 36 months.
The ministry said that the programme is built around the vision of 'Pehle Teen Saal Sampoorna Dekhbhal', recognising the importance of the first three years of life for child survival, nutrition, growth and early brain development. “For the first time, the programme will introduce a risk-stratified approach for newborns and children identified as 'at-risk',” the ministry said in a statement.
The programme will further strengthen continuity of care through joint home visits by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Community Health Officers (CHOs) and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs).It will also introduce Well-Baby Sessions at every Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) and a monthly Shishu Shivir at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for early identification, assessment and management of 'at-risk' children.
The minister further said that the government has improved linkages between primary and secondary healthcare to ensure better continuity of treatment. Mr Nadda added that tertiary healthcare has also been strengthened with the establishment of 23 new AIIMS and over 157 medical colleges across the country, particularly in underserved and backward districts.
“The launch of Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK) will reaffirm the government's commitment to ensuring accessible, equitable and quality healthcare for every mother and child towards the vision of Viksit Bharat,” the statement added.
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