New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has announced two new initiatives aimed at improving the health and welfare of pregnant women, mothers, and newborn babies.
The programmes are designed to ensure proper healthcare support for children up to the age of three and to reduce maternal and newborn deaths across the country.
The ministry has released the guidelines for Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan Yojana, also known as SUMAN, along with a comprehensive child health programme that will focus on continuous care for young children.
The initiatives were announced by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda during a meeting of the Health and Family Welfare Council.
As part of the programme, a special SUMAN package will be introduced for pregnant women. The plan includes home visits by ASHA workers, birth waiting homes, mother-and-child health units, obstetric high-dependency units, and intensive care facilities.
The new child health programme also advises reducing screen time for children below three years of age. It encourages physical activities and age-appropriate play to support healthy development.
The programme will combine two existing schemes: Home-Based Newborn Care and Home-Based Care for Young Children. Through this integrated approach, children will receive better follow-up and support during the early years of life.
Children who are at higher risk due to low birth weight, premature birth, malnutrition, repeated illness, or developmental delays will receive special monitoring and care.
The programme will be implemented jointly by ASHA workers, ANMs, Community Health Officers, and Anganwadi workers.
