Haryana Initiates Birth Defect Surveillance In India as Primary Prevention Tool

Haryana collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) to initiate statewide birth defect surveillance in India. Director National Health Mission Inoshi Sharma, said there are 1.7 million children born in India with Congenital Birth Defect (CBD) and it accounts for six percent of the total births. Twenty five percent of the CBD comprise congenital heart disease, neural tube defect, and Down syndrome.

Suresh Dalpath, Deputy Director, Child Health, Haryana said in Haryana, birth defect data is being captured from various sources like anemia tracking module, home based post natal care, Special New-born Care Units.

Birth Defect Surveillance (BDS) training is intended to serve as a tool to establish hospital based surveillance and severe congenital anomalies that will be captured during the first few days following birth serving as a potential for primary prevention.

Source-Medindia