WHO certifies India as free of neo-natal tetanus, says Nadda

Lauding the Centre's 'Mission Indradhanush' programme, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister said as many as 35 lakh children had been given total immunisation in one year

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified India as free of neo-natal tetanus, said Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda, adding the country is poised to reach immunisation cover to 90 percent soon.

"Kilkari launched for better awareness among pregnant women, parents of children and field workers. As many as 1.18 crore pregnant women registered in Mother Child Tracking System during 2015-16 (till Oct'), while the ministry has adopted a life cycle and continuum of care approach for neonatal, child and maternal healthcare," he said while speaking at the All India Regional Editors Conference here on Tuesday.

Lauding the Centre's 'Mission Indradhanush' programme, he said as many as 35 lakh children had been given total immunisation in one year, while 20 lakh children had been given total immunisation during the first phase of this mission.

"The mission, which has resulted in spreading immunisation cover to end preventable deaths, aims to cover all left out and missed out children for full immunisation through seven vaccines, as we implement world's largest immunisation programme," he said, adding that four new vaccines have been added.

Stating that the shortage of manpower and paramedics are challenges which the health sector faces, Nadda said, "The first challenge the health sector faces is the availability of services, which is more serious in urban areas. At least 70 percent of healthcare is given by private sector, whose focus is tertiary sector, which is resulting in the shortage in primary healthcare."

Pointing out that 60 percent of disease-related deaths are due to non-communicable diseases, while 60 percent of deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases, he said that his ministry was focussing on these in addition to communicable diseases.

He said under 'e-hospital Yojana', OPD (Outpatient Department) registration has been made online in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjang Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

"As many as 70 medical colleges to be converted into Super Specialty Hospitals, while 58 district hospitals are being converted into medical colleges, and the Centre would lay more focus on preventive healthcare," said Nadda elaborating on the government's vision for healthcare.