Tamil Nadu Unveils Comprehensive Health Initiatives to Tackle Maternal and Infant Mortality
In a significant move to further reduce maternal and infant deaths, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian has officially launched a dual-pronged initiative comprising specialized baby care kits for low-birth-weight newborns and a dedicated mobile application designed to strengthen maternal health services across the state.
Declining Mortality Rates Show Progress
According to the latest data from the Sample Registration System, Tamil Nadu currently holds the second-lowest maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) in the entire country. The MMR has shown a consistent and impressive decline, dropping from 90.5 per lakh live births in 2021-22 to 52 in 2022-23, further decreasing to 45.5 in 2023-24, and reaching 39.5 in 2024-25.
Similarly, the IMR has also seen a steady reduction, moving from 10.4 per 1,000 live births in 2021-22 to 10.2 in 2022-23, then to 8.2 in 2023-24, and finally to 7.7 in 2024-25. "The government has implemented various strategic steps to achieve the ultimate goal of zero MMR and IMR," stated Minister Subramanian, highlighting the administration's commitment to public health.
Targeting the Most Vulnerable: Low-Birth-Weight Infants
TN-National Health Mission Director A Arun Thamburaj emphasized that the state's target is to achieve the lowest mortality rates nationwide. He provided critical context: approximately 60% of deliveries in Tamil Nadu, which translates to around 4.5 lakh births annually, occur in government hospitals. Out of these, nearly 50,000 babies are born weighing less than 2.5 kilograms.
"Low birth weight babies represent a highly vulnerable demographic that requires sustained follow-up and specialized care," Dr. Thamburaj explained, underscoring the necessity for targeted interventions.
Introducing the "Pachilam Kuzhandaigal Padukappu Pettagam" Kit
To directly address the needs of these at-risk infants, the state government has launched the "Pachilam kuzhandaigal padukappu pettagam" (Baby Care Protection Kit) program. This initiative will be rolled out across all 92 Special Neonatal Care Units (SNCUs) in Tamil Nadu.
The comprehensive baby care kit is designed to:
- Provide free iron, multivitamin, and vitamin D3 supplements for up to 12 months to aid in weight gain and prevent nutritional deficiencies.
- Include a storage basket containing a medical card for the child and an informative brochure for the mother.
- Require parents to return to hospitals with their infants for kit collection, enabling healthcare workers to perform essential growth monitoring tests, identify signs of malnutrition, and administer scheduled vaccines.
The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation will be responsible for procuring and supplying these vital kits to hospitals throughout the state.
Enhancing Maternal Care with the Thaimai App
Parallel to the infant care initiative, the state has introduced the Thaimai app, a mobile extension of the government's existing Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation platform. This digital tool aims to revolutionize maternal healthcare delivery.
Health Secretary P Senthilkumar detailed the app's functionalities:
- It enables village health nurses and urban health nurses to efficiently track high-risk pregnancies, monitor pending antenatal check-ups, and oversee immunization schedules.
- The app facilitates continuous monitoring of the health status of both mother and child.
- Pregnant women can receive automated reminders for doctor visits and vaccinations, along with access to Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials.
- A critical feature allows users to dial emergency services 104 or 108 directly through a single click within the app, ensuring rapid access to medical assistance.
These integrated measures—combining tangible nutritional support for vulnerable infants with advanced digital tracking for maternal health—represent Tamil Nadu's proactive and multifaceted strategy to safeguard the well-being of mothers and children, firmly setting its sights on leading the nation in health outcomes.
