Haryana neonatal tetanus free state: Union Govt

Chandigarh, Mar 25: The Union Government has declared Haryana as free from neonatal tetanus disease.

Health Minister Ms Kartar Devi yesterday said the state government has received a communication to this effect from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare declaring that neonatal tetanus had been eliminated from Haryana.

She said in the month of June last year, a community based survey was carried out by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry and Health Department of the State in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to assess whether neonatal tetanus had been eliminated form Haryana.

Efforts would be made to maintain the status of neonatal tetanus elimination by continuing thrust on promotion of institutional deliveries and maintaining a high level of Tetanus Toxide (TT) coverage among pregnant women, she said, adding surveillance for neonatal tetanus would be stepped up.

She said neonatal tetanus could be prevented by immunising women before or during pregnancy with tetanus toxide and by ensuring that the children are born under hygienic conditions with the umbilical stump properly managed.

Ms Kartar Devi said there has been an increased thrust to operationalise delivery huts in rural areas. The setting up of delivery huts ensured women friendly facilities with focus on safe deliveries with round-the-clock availability of skilled persons in rural areas.

UNI