To reduce neonatal mortality and improve neonatal care, the Health Department on Saturday provided equipment to upgrade six newborn stabilisation units in the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) — Tiruvottiyur, Madhavaram, Valasaravakkam, Ambattur, Alandur, and Pulianthope.
Similarly, the neonatal stabilisation unit at the Government Hospital, Vaniyambadi, in Tirupattur district has been upgraded as a Special Newborn Care Unit.
One of the announcements made in the State Budget last year was to provide necessary equipment to 471 primary health centres (PHCs) with a high number of deliveries to strengthen neonatal care services. As a part of this, equipment was provided to renovate and upgrade the six units in Chennai, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian said.
Due to several such initiatives, the State’s Infant Mortality Rate has dropped from 13 per 1,000 live births in 2020 (as per Sample Registration System) to eight last year (as per State’s Health Management Information System), he said.
In a step to implement another Budget announcement to develop a comprehensive action plan to prevent adolescent pregnancy and improve adolescent health, a short film on various topics, including adolescent health, nutritious food and mental health, was released on the occasion.
Efforts to offer services for early detection of autism spectrum disorders and treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at the District Early Intervention Centres in Tenkasi, Madurai, Tiruchi, and Coimbatore were also initiated.
Cancer screening
Mr. Subramanian said through the community-based cancer screening programme in four districts — Erode, Tirupattur, Kanniyakumari and Ranipet — 148 persons were diagnosed with cancers and were being treated.
The cancer screening will commence in all revenue divisional districts in the State from the first week of April. Work to administer the HPV vaccine for 14-year-old girls would also begin soon, he added.
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P.K. Sekarbabu and Mayor R. Priya were present. Awards for achievements in family welfare measures were presented on the occasion.
Published – March 23, 2025 12:57 am IST