New Delhi (NVI): COVID-19 testing is not mandatory for providing health services related to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and should be continued in a restricted manner in areas defined as containment and buffer zones, Health Ministry said today.
In the ‘Guidance note on Provision of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services during and post COVID-19 pandemic’ released by the Health Ministry stressed that critical services for women, children and adolescent should be provided irrespective of their COVID-19 status.
According to the guidelines, any area exiting a ‘containment/ buffer zone’ can start such activities as listed in areas beyond buffer zone’ after a minimum gap of 14 days following delisting.
The ministry also noted that the mother and newborn should be nursed together as far as possible and breastfeeding must be initiated within 1 hour of delivery, irrespective of COVID-19 status. However, the mother should put on a face mask and practice hand hygiene before feeding the child.
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, the guidelines elaborates.
Health Ministry added, with more than 2.5 crore pregnancies each year in the country, it is important to ensure the availability of services during this period as any denial of services can have an impact on maternal and newborn mortalities, morbidities as well as the health care costs.
In addition to this, drugs, commodities needed for continuing such services should be treated as essential commodities and home deliveries of essential medicines like calcium, ORS, zinc, contraceptives etc can be organised in containment zones.
