Home / Health / Tamil Nadu Launches Baby Care Kits for Vulnerable Newborns
Tamil Nadu Launches Baby Care Kits for Vulnerable Newborns
14 Feb
Summary
- Tamil Nadu introduced a Baby Care Kit scheme for low birth weight babies.
- Kits include iron, multivitamin, and vitamin D3 drops for babies.
- The initiative aims to reduce infant mortality and improve nutrition.
Tamil Nadu has introduced a significant "Baby Care Kit" scheme to enhance care for low birth weight (LBW) babies after their discharge from all 92 Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) across the state. This initiative is specifically designed to further decrease the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).
The monthly kits contain crucial supplements, including iron, multivitamin, and vitamin D3 drops, along with an infant supplementary medical card and a booklet on child development. Approximately 1.2 lakh sick newborns are treated annually in these SNCUs, with about 52,000 identified as LBW, a group particularly vulnerable to health complications.
This program addresses critical gaps in follow-up care, which often declines due to parental unawareness and access issues. The state health minister launched the initiative, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring of nutrition and immunity. The scheme, costing ₹8.07 crore, aims to provide these micronutrient supplements free of cost for up to 12 months.
On the same occasion, the "PICME" mobile application (Thaimai) was also launched. This app provides pregnant women and mothers access to antenatal visit details, child information, and immunization schedules, alongside direct links to emergency services and health helplines.
