Major Push for Mother-Newborn Care
Chandigarh: Haryana is set to give a major push to maternal, newborn and child healthcare, with Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Sumita Misra directing officials to fast-track the construction of eight Mother and Child Health (MCH) wings and work towards converting all Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) into Mother-Newborn Care Units (MNCUs) by November 1.
Dr. Misra gave these directions while chairing the 12th meeting of the Executive Committee of the State Health Society, NHM, held here today. She called for a stronger, outcome-oriented healthcare system, with special focus on ensuring that mothers and newborns remain together during care, strengthening women-centric health services, empowering frontline health workers, expanding referral facilities and intensifying the monitoring and tracking of pregnancies.
SNCUs to become MNCUs, bringing mother and baby care together
A key focus of the meeting was the proposed conversion of SNCUs into MNCUs. The new model will bring maternal and newborn care under one integrated system, allowing mothers to remain closely connected with their newborns during specialised treatment. Haryana currently has 29 SNCUs, 62 Newborn Stabilisation Units and 527 Newborn Care Corners.
Dr. Misra directed that the planned conversion be completed by November 1, strengthening a care model in which the health and recovery of both the mother and child are addressed together.
Eight MCH wings to strengthen dedicated mother-child infrastructure
Dr. Misra directed officials to expedite construction of eight Maternal and Child Health (MCH) wings, which will expand dedicated infrastructure for women and children and enhance the capacity of government hospitals to provide integrated maternal and child healthcare.
The meeting also reviewed the strengthening of First Referral Units (FRUs) so that pregnant women requiring specialised or emergency care can be referred and treated without unnecessary delay.
Haryana has increased the number of designated FRUs to 100, from 40 earlier. The state has also recorded improvement in key maternal and child health indicators, with the maternal mortality ratio declining from 127 to 94 and the neonatal mortality rate from 26 to 17. Dr. Misra stated that 38 specialist doctors have been recruited, covering key specialties including paediatrics, gynaecology, medicine, and anaesthesia.
Mahila Clinics to be made more effective
The performance of Mahila Clinics was also reviewed, with Dr. Misra directing officials to improve their functioning and service delivery. The focus is to make these women-focused facilities more responsive and accessible, enabling women to receive essential healthcare services closer to their homes. The department will work towards strengthening the continuum of women’s healthcare covering pregnancy, reproductive health, maternal care and postnatal support.
Creches in all district hospitals
Dr. Misra directed that creches will be established in all district hospitals. She stated that the move is aimed at creating a more women-friendly environment in government hospitals, particularly for women employees and visitors who may need childcare support while working or accessing healthcare services.
Medical Personnel to get stronger ground-level training & Continuing Medical Education (CME)
Dr. Misra directed officials to introduce special training measures for ASHA workers at the grassroots level, with the effectiveness of such interventions to be assessed through measurable field-level outcomes.
The emphasis will be on strengthening ASHAs as the frontline link between pregnant women, families and the healthcare system, particularly for identification of high-risk pregnancies, timely referral and follow-up care.
She also directed that yearly calendar for need based & skill upgradation based Continuing Medical Education (CME) for all categories doctors, nurses, radiographer and other para-medical staff
FCM use to be strengthened for pregnant women
The meeting also reviewed measures to increase the availability and appropriate use of Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM) for eligible pregnant women suffering from iron-deficiency anaemia.
The focus on strengthening FCM availability and utilisation is aimed at improving anaemia management during pregnancy and supporting better maternal health outcomes.
Stronger reverse tracking and PNDT enforcement
Dr. Misra further directed officials to intensify reverse tracking of pregnancies and strengthen enforcement under the PC-PNDT Act, including increased monitoring and raids.
The objective is to make field-level surveillance more effective and ensure strict compliance with the law, while strengthening mechanisms for tracking pregnancies and identifying irregularities.
Haryana has already achieved 99.1 per cent institutional deliveries during April-July 2026. The latest directions seek to build on these gains by strengthening infrastructure and frontline services and by placing the health, safety and dignity of women, mothers and children at the centre of the state’s healthcare delivery sy stem.
