Newborn care in India: A promising beginning, but a long way to go

Neonatal health presents India with a formidable challenge with over 25 million births, 1.3 million newborn deaths and one-third of infants being low birth weight. With near elimination of tetanus neonatorum, the problems of neonatal sepsis, birth asphyxia and prematurity are required to be tackled at the grassroots level in order to make further impact on neonatal survival. Essential newborn care has been part of the national programmes since 1992. As a result, newborn care facilities and expertise is being developed at the district and the sub-district levels. This promising beginning needs to be expanded, improved and monitored for effectiveness. The training of providers should focus more on skills. Outside the peripheral health facilities in the government sector, there are 10–12 level III neonatal care institutions, 40–50 level II units and numerous smaller nurseries. Availability of indigenous neonatal care equipment has fuelled the growth of newborn care facilities in the country. The National Neonatology Forum continues to be a major catalyst for the growth of newborn care in the country