Haryana to strengthen newborn care with 19 more ventilators at cost of Rs 7 crore
Chandigarh: The Haryana government will add 19 neonatal ventilators to the existing 54 ventilators across 29 Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) in the state to strengthen emergency preparedness and ensure timely respiratory support for critically ill newborns.
The additional equipment will involve an expenditure of around Rs 7 crore, a government official said on Wednesday.
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Alongside this, the state government is undertaking a major initiative to upgrade its SNCUs into integrated Mother-Newborn Care Units (MNCUs), allowing mothers to stay alongside their hospitalised babies during treatment wherever medically appropriate.
Speaking to TOI, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Dr Sumita Misra said the initiative aimed to reduce avoidable separation between mothers and newborns by integrating specialised medical treatment with maternal presence, breastfeeding support and family participation in newborn care.
Under the MNCU model, mothers will be encouraged to remain beside their babies during hospitalisation and actively participate in their care under the supervision of trained doctors and nurses.
The initiative follows the World Health Organisation's (WHO) principle of 'zero separation', which promotes keeping mothers and newborns together whenever clinically appropriate, including when babies require specialised medical attention.
A key feature of the programme will be Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), which involves prolonged skin-to-skin contact between a newborn and the mother or another suitable caregiver. The practice helps regulate the baby's body temperature, supports breastfeeding and strengthens maternal-infant bonding. It is particularly beneficial for eligible premature and low-birth-weight babies.
The programme will also focus on educating mothers about breastfeeding, newborn nutrition, hygiene, and identifying warning signs that require immediate medical attention. Other family members may also be encouraged to participate in routine newborn care wherever appropriate and under professional supervision.
The statewide expansion builds on the experience of mother-newborn care facilities established at district hospitals in Ambala City and Kurukshetra. According to the health department, an implementation research study on ‘Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care’ was initiated at the District Hospital, Ambala City, by the Society for Applied Studies and the WHO in collaboration with the Haryana govt. As part of the research, India’s first district-level MNCU at a Level-2 healthcare facility was established at the hospital, reports TOI.
Subsequently, another MNCU was set up at District Hospital, Kurukshetra, which went on to serve as a model facility for the state's broader programme.
Health officials from various districts visited the Kurukshetra facility to understand the infrastructure, medical equipment, infection-control measures, staffing requirements and clinical procedures needed to establish similar units across Haryana.
The orientation visits were organised by the National Health Mission (NHM), Haryana, in coordination with the Society for Applied Studies.
Dr Sumita Misra had directed officials during the National Health Mission's executive committee meeting on August 21 to establish new MNCUs or upgrade all existing SNCUs across Haryana by November 1, 2026.
The initiative is aimed at making maternal participation an integral part of specialised newborn healthcare while ensuring that clinical assessment, monitoring and treatment continue under professional supervision.
Depending on the newborn's medical condition and the capabilities of the healthcare facility, treatment may include oxygen support, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), phototherapy for jaundice, feeding support and prescribed medication.
Newborns requiring advanced medical intervention will continue to be referred to higher-level healthcare institutions whenever necessary.
The Health Department has also emphasised that infection prevention will remain a critical component of the programme. Hospitals will be required to follow prescribed protocols for hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, disinfection, biomedical waste management and movement within specialised care units.
The department expects the initiative to improve coordination among healthcare professionals, standardise clinical practices and make newborn healthcare more responsive to the needs of mothers and babies.
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