Guidelines on providing maternal, newborn care services in containment zones and beyond issued | India News
by TOI
NEW DELHI: The health ministry has come out with a detailed guidance note on provision of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health plus nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services during and post Covid-19 at different levels in accordance with the zonal categorisation of containment and buffer zones and areas beyond these zones.
It is made clear that Covid testing is not mandatory for RMNCAH+N service. However, all Covid suspect and positive cases should preferably be provided services at dedicated Covid facility.
Also drugs, commodities needed for continuing RMNCAH+N services, are to be treated as essential commodities. “Home deliveries of essential medicines like IFA, Calcium, ORS, Zinc, contraceptives etc. can be organised in containment zone. Also critical services for women, children and adolescent should be provided irrespective of their Covid status. Under no circumstances should there be a denial of essential services,” it is stated.
For RMNCAH+N purposes, services have been bifurcated into: containment and buffer zone and the areas beyond buffer zone and green zone.
In case of maternal health services in containment and buffer zone it is laid out that line listing of high risk pregnancies should be maintained and follow up should be through teleconsultation. Also beneficiary visit should be organised to the hospitals located outside containment zone. It is laid out very clearly that all health facilities should continue providing delivery services in containment zones.
Also every pregnant woman is to be linked with the appropriate nearby health facility for delivery and ambulance services to be tied up in advance for timely transport.
In her letter to state authorities, Union health secretary Preeti Sudan has asked each state/UT to ensure access to RMNCAH+N services in order to avert the increased risk of morbidities, unwanted pregnancies and mortalities thereby ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and children.
In containment and buffer zone for sick newborns (irrespective of Covid status), services must be provided in the nearest SNCU/NBSU with proper referral arrangement. It is stated that screening of newborn babies should be done at all health facilities where deliveries have taken place.
Specific guidance for reproductive health services emphasises that all designated facilities should continue providing Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) as per Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. In case of containment and buffer zones CAC is to be provided on demand to walk-in beneficiaries in facility as per MTP Act.
It is stated that any area exiting a ‘containment/ buffer zone’ can start RMNCAH+N activities as listed in ‘areas beyond buffer zone’ after a minimum gap of 14 days following de-listing.