India free of maternal, neonatal tetanus

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 27

In what the WHO today described as a momentous public health feat, India has eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) which until a few years ago was claiming two lakh neonatal (within the first 28 days of birth) deaths annually.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the accomplishment during his inaugural speech at the two-day global summit on preventable child and maternal deaths here today. The summit is being attended by health ministers of 24 countries, including South Asia and Africa, which contribute 70 per cent to the global maternal and child mortality burden.

India alone accounts for 22 per cent of 6.3 million annual under five deaths globally and 16 per cent of the 2.89 lakh maternal deaths globally. Over half (52 per cent) of under five deaths at home happen at the neonatal stage, which is why the MNT feat is critical.

The elimination of neonatal tetanus is defined as less than one case in 1,000 live births in every district of the country and reflects improved institutional deliveries (now 75 per cent for India) and clean umbilical cord practices. The disease occurs in newborns through infection of the unhealed umbilical stump when it is cut with a non-sterile instrument. Maternal tetanus is considered eliminated once neonatal tetanus elimination has been achieved. In India, the Health Ministry has evidence of cow dung application to cords bring a major source of tetanus infection in newborns. The PM said, “India has crossed another major milestone after polio eradication. We have eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus.”