Latest news with #MNCU
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
How new mother-newborn care unit at Safdarjung Hospital is saving lives
Launched a year ago, the Mother Newborn Care Unit (MNCU) under the Paediatrics Department at Safdarjung Hospital has helped reduce mortality rates in sick infants born outside the hospital. According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Paediatrics, titled Mother Newborn Care Unit: An Innovation for Improving Survival of Small and Sick Babies at Tertiary Level Facility, the mortality of outborn neonates was 28.3% before the initiation of the MNCU. After the centre was set up last year, it dipped to 18.7%. It was conducted by doctors from Safdarjung Hospital and covered 1,980 newborns. Following the study, Safdarjung Hospital has now been designated as the nodal centre for MNCU implementation. The hospital — a multi-speciality tertiary care centre — has been providing care to sick neonates referred from across Northern India — but these newborns were admitted to paediatric wards alongside older children. In February 2024, the hospital operationalised the 40-bed Level III MNCU, offering comprehensive critical care for premature and sick newborns — including those with complex medical or surgical needs — regardless of birth weight or gestational age. This unit specifically caters to outborn neonates. The MNCU is equipped with advanced facilities, including mechanical ventilation (both invasive and non-invasive) and other Level III intensive care services for critically ill newborns. Additionally, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) garments, binders, and chairs were procured to enable immediate KMC for newborns weighing less than 2,500 grams, without waiting for full stabilisation. KMC is often referred to as a skin-to-skin contact intervention and frequent breastfeeding for premature or low birth weight infants. The unit's infrastructure also includes dedicated washrooms, bathing facilities, and a dining area for mothers and surrogates. Key findings of study In alignment with global best practices, the central government has now revised its Newborn Care Guidelines to advocate for the establishment of MNCUs in Level II public health facilities. Level II is the secondary level of healthcare, providing specialist services while Level 3 refers to tertiary care, which provides highly specialised and advanced medical care. According to a letter sent to Safdarjung Hospital by the Union Health Ministry, states and union territories are planning to set up MNCUs and have requested exposure visits to the hospital to understand infrastructure, service delivery, and challenges. 'Given Safdarjung Hospital's expertise… it may be used as a nodal centre for the Mother Newborn Care Unit. We also request the appointment of officers from the Pediatrics and Obstetrics Departments as nodal officers for inborn and outborn MNCUs,' said the order. The letter said these officers would support the visits, training, and mentoring of State/UT participants, including Delhi and international delegates. 'The HoD of Pediatrics at Safdarjung Hospital may send a proposal to the Delhi NHM to support this initiative and explore funding possibilities for support staff and other resources. This nodal centre may serve as a resource hub for capacity building of hospital personnel across Delhi and other State/UTs,' it added.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
MNCU, ART centre, ECRC opened at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital
Health Minister Ma. Subramanian on Sunday inaugurated a Mother – Newborn Care Unit (MNCU) and an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) centre at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The MNCU built at a cost of ₹86 lakh has 10 beds for mothers with attached facilities for newborns. This will ensure treatment of ailing postnatal mothers or newborns within the same space, without separating them. The Minister said that the ART centre that has come up at the tertiary level government hospital at a cost of ₹16.3 lakh will help couples from poor economic backgrounds undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, which in private facilities cost ₹10 to ₹12 lakh. Already such centres have come up at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Egmore and the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem, he said. Mr. Subramanian said that the government, as announced earlier, has launched provision of somatrogon, a medication for growth hormone deficiency in children, at a cost of ₹13.28 crore. At a time, each beneficiary will be given the medication, which comes as a disposable injection pen, for five weeks that cost around ₹60,000. The medical will continue as prescribed by doctors. The Minister also inaugurated an Emergency Care and Recovery Centre (ECRC) at the hospital, which is a 15-bedded facility for the care and treatment of homeless persons and those who are found on streets, requiring immediate medical attention. He said 16 ECRCs are functioning across the State with the support of non-governmental organisations. He also distributed free spectacles to 50 persons aged above 50, who underwent eye check-up camps organised by the district administration in collaboration with Rotary International at Thondamuthur, Madukkarai, Negamam, Karamadai, Sarkarsamakulam, Sulthanpet, Valparai, Periyanaickenpalayam and Annur. Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department P. Senthil Kumar, Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, Coimbatore MP Ganapathy P. Rajkumar, Pollachi MP K. Eswarasamy, Mayor K. Ranganayaki, Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran and CMCH Dean A. Nirmala were present. On Sunday morning, the Minister trekked to a few tribal settlements near Kovai Courtallam and got feedback from residents on the reach of Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme. He also awarded degrees to medical students in the graduation ceremonies held at Coimbatore Medical College and the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital on Sunday.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
BKT hosp to get paediatric care unit; path lab
Lucknow: Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak will inaugurate several new facilities for patients at Ram Sagar Mishra Hospital in Bakshi Ka Talab on Saturday. The hospital will launch a dedicated paediatric care unit for newborns, a major step forward in providing specialised medical services. According to the hospital's CMS, Dr VK Sharma, the new paediatric care unit will have 44 beds, including specialised sections like the MNCU (Mother and Newborn Care Unit ), General Paediatric Ward, and LMU (Labour Management Unit). This will be the first of its kind in Lucknow and the largest such unit in the state. Additionally, a pathology lab will also be inaugurated under the 'Spoke and Hub' model. This lab will be connected to seven community health centres and trauma centres, including those in BKT, Itaunja, Aliganj, Gudamba, Mal, Malihabad, Kakori, and Jankipuram. The lab will provide round-the-clock testing services for blood samples collected from these centres, with important tests for CBC, liver, kidney, heart, HIV, hepatitis, viral markers, and more. TNN
