Home / Health / New Program Boosts Early Childhood Health Visits
New Program Boosts Early Childhood Health Visits
29 Jun
Summary
- New national program to enhance child health care from birth.
- High-risk newborns and children to receive more intensive home visits.
- Program integrates mental health screening and early childhood development.
Launching on Monday, the Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram is a new national initiative designed to bolster healthcare for children during their critical first three years of life. This comprehensive program integrates existing schemes, offering enhanced home-based care with additional follow-up visits for high-risk newborns and young children.
The program introduces a risk-stratified care model. Newborns identified as "at risk" will benefit from up to nine home visits within their first 42 days. At-risk children will receive up to eight home visits until they reach three years of age, ensuring close monitoring and timely intervention.
Furthermore, this initiative strengthens collaboration among frontline health workers through joint home visits. It also introduces well-baby sessions and monthly Shishu Shivirs for continuous monitoring. A significant addition is the inclusion of post-partum maternal mental health screening and the promotion of nurturing care for early childhood development during home visits.
