Photo
for representation. (AFP)
The ministry stressed that critical
services for women, children and adolescent should be provided irrespective of
their COVID-19 status.
The Centre has suggested states and UTs to organise home delivery of
essential medicines like calcium, iron/folic acid and zinc tablets besides
contraceptives in containment zones to ensure maternal and child healthcare is
not affected due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
In its 'Guidance note on Provision of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn,
Child, Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services during and post
COVID-19 pandemic' released on Wednesday, the ministry stressed that critical
services for women, children and adolescent should be provided irrespective of
their COVID-19 status.
"Under no circumstances should there be a denial of essential
services," it highlighted.
"Home deliveries of essential medicines like IFA, Calcium, ORS,
Zinc, contraceptives etc. can be organized in containment zones," it said.
Campaign mode services like mass vitamin A prophylaxis, campaigns for
Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight (IDCF), National Deworming Day (NDD) and
Test treat and Talk (T3) camps for Anemia, can be organised on an alternative
mechanism like through home delivery of essential services and commodities etc.
based on local situation, it said.
In case the number of beneficiaries is more, then additional
sessions/clinics could be organized. Community based activities should have
limited participation (5-10) at a time.The procedure site and all equipment
should be sanitized properly before and after the clinics/sessions, it said.
All COVID-19 suspects and positive cases should preferably be provided
services at dedicated COVID facility.
"COVID-19 testing is not mandatory for RMNCAH+N service. ICMR
testing guidelines need to be followed," it said, while underlining that
tele-consultation services should be promoted at all levels to prevent
overcrowding and reduce cross infection.
As far as immunisation services are concerned, birth dose vaccination
should be continued at all health facilities as the beneficiaries are already
in the facility.
In other cases, providing vaccination doses will only be allowed outside
the containment and buffer zones, and in green zones.
An area enlisted as a ''containment or buffer zone'' should stop health
facility-based sessions and outreach sessions, but if a beneficiary walks-into
a health facility to get their child vaccinated, he/she should not be turned
away.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded additional attention of our
healthcare system and it is vital that during this period the essential
RMNCAH+N services are not affected," Union health secretary Preeti Sudan
said in a letter to chief secretaries and health secretaries of states and UTs
recently.
"Each state/UT needs to ensure access to these 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," she
said.
The guidance note issued on Wednesday elaborates that services such as
antenatal and newborn care, immunization, family planning and adolescent health
among others are to be provided at different levels in accordance with the
zonal categorization of containment zones, buffer zones and beyond these zones.
"India also has the largest adolescent and youth population.
Therefore, in addition to the current priority for COVID-19 for health
facilities and health workers, it is also vital that essential health services
for vulnerable population like this segment are continued during the
pandemic," it said.
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Medicine