Home-deliver ORS, folic acid in containment zones, states told

New Delhi, May 27

As Covid-19 cases topped 1,51,767 today with a 24-hour surge of 6,387 infections, the Centre asked the states to start home-delivery of contraceptives, iron and folic acid for reproductive health across containment zones.

“Home deliveries of essential medicines like iron and frolic acid tablets, calcium, ORS, zinc and contraceptives be organised in containment zones,” the Health Ministry’s advisory said. India has over 2.5 crore pregnancies each year. “Denial of services can impact maternal and newborn mortalities, morbidities and healthcare costs. Regulating fertility is a necessity.There is also a need to enhance safe abortion services besides post-partum and post-abortion contraception,” the ministry said.

Vaccine next year: Harvard expert

Director, Harvard Global Health Institute, Ashish Jha in a web conversation on Wednesday said Covid vaccine would be ready next year and India should plan to procure its requirement. He trashed the idea of herd immunity.