Health MInistry advises States, UTs to organize home deliveries of essential medicines in containment zones

Health Ministry has advised States and Union Territories to organize home deliveries of essential medicines like calcium, ORS, zinc, contraceptives, iron folic in containment zones to ensure maternal and child health care amid the Corona virus pandemic. It said, drugs and commodities needed for continuing Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition services should be treated as essential commodities.

In this regard, Ministry issued a guidance note today, wherein it was stressed that critical services for women, children and adolescent should be provided irrespective of their COVID-19 status. Ministry said, campaign mode services like mass vitamin A prophylaxis, campaigns for Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight, National De-worming Day and Test, Treat and Talk camps



for Anemia, can be organized on an alternative mechanism like through home delivery of essential services and commodities, based on local situation.

Health Ministry said that all COVID suspect and positive cases should be provided services at dedicated COVID facility. It said, COVID testing is not mandatory for these services and ICMR testing guidelines need to be followed. It also stressed on the use of tele-consultation services to prevent overcrowding and reduce cross infection.

The Ministry said, 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.