602 Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) operational in the country

The Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda has stated .Infant Mortality Rate in the country has shown steady decline from 47 per 1000live births in 2010 to 40 per 1000 live births in 2013.

Currently, there are 602 Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU), 2228 New Born Stabilization Units (NBSU) and 16968 Newborn Care Corners (NBCC) established across the country. SNCU is a 12-20 bedded unit and NBSU is 4 bedded unit for care of sick newborn. NBCC is an earmarked area at delivery points equipped with radiant warmer and resuscitation kit to provide essential newborn care.

Details of the new units are as under:

Under the National Health Mission, states submit their annual plans and funds from GOI are provided for establishing new units, renovations and expansion of existing units and once established the operational costs for these units. The support is also extended for recruiting human resources of all cadres and capacity building of medical officers and staff nurses. The procurement and maintenance support for equipment is also included in the annual budgets. Kangaroo Mother Care Units for care of small babies are being established in the country at the district level with the support from GOI.

Promoting Institutional delivery through Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY) cash  incentive scheme for pregnant mothers and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) which entitles all pregnant women and sick infant  to absolutely free and no expense treatment at the public health facilities.

Facility Based Newborn Care (FBNC) training is being imparted to the specialist, medical officers and nurses working in the Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) established at the district and sub district level to provide comprehensive care to the sick and preterm babies. FBNC training package is of 4 day classroom training followed by 14 day observer ship for hands on training at designated centres.

Navjat Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (NSSK) is the training programme for doctors, nurses and ANMs to build their capacity to provide essential newborn care to all newborns.