Mumbai: 2 lakh 77 thousand infants treated in neonatal care units
Maharashtra: According to the Public Health Department, 97,392 children were admitted and treated in SNCU during the years 2020-21 and 2021-22. Also, 1,79,722 children were admitted and treated in SNCU during the period from 2022-23 to 2024-25 (till the end of November 2024). The number of children admitted and treated in SNCU has increased in the last two years. The neonatal mortality rate for this period has decreased from 7.50 percent in the year 2020-21 to 5.04 percent by the end of November 2024. The mortality rate in SNCU has decreased by 2.46 percent in the last three years. About 50,000 critically ill children are treated in SNCU every year. A total of 6,798 very low birth weight (less than 1,500 grams) newborns have been successfully treated and given a new life during the years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 (till the end of November 2024).
Special Neonatal Care Units (SNCUs) have been set up in district, women and sub-district hospitals for the management and treatment of sick newborns and low birth weight newborns. A total of 55 SNCUs are functioning in 18 district hospitals, 12 women hospitals, 15 sub-district hospitals, 3 general hospitals, 1 rural hospital, 1 government medical college and 5 corporation hospitals in the state. Each unit has at least 12 to 16 beds, with 1 pediatrician, 2 medical officers, 10 to 12 nurses and 4 support staff, and provides round the clock service for newborns or children requiring special care. These units are equipped with medical equipment like radiant warmers, phototherapy units, infusion pumps, CPAP machines, monitors. The services provided to sick newborns include hypothermia, sepsis/infection, jaundice, asphyxiated babies, babies with low body temperature, babies with low blood sugar, antibiotics, supportive feeding, exclusive breastfeeding, postpartum care and referral services.
Critically ill, low birth weight newborns admitted to SNCU require respiratory support. Services are provided for them as per the revised guidelines on non-invasive ventilation (such as CPAP) and use of surfactant for premature newborns through the technical committee. Special tests like kangaroo mother care, congenital blindness (retinopathy of prematurity), congenital deafness (OAE/BERA test) are done for low birth weight babies. Health Director Dr Nitin Ambadekar said that all tests and treatments are done free of cost here.
Continuous efforts are being made by the Public Health Department to reduce infant and neonatal mortality and from the year 2020 to November 2024, a total of 2,77,114 children were admitted to Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) of government hospitals and were successfully treated free of cost. The Health Department has been successful in reducing the neonatal mortality rate during this period.
Continuous efforts are being made by the Public Health Department to reduce infant and neonatal mortality in the state. It is clear from the data of the last few years that these efforts are being successful. Various schemes are implemented by the Health Department to prevent diseases and deaths of newborns and to improve the health of children. All these schemes are implemented at the state and district level.
