A birth defect surveillance programme will be rolled out under the Rashtriya Bal Swashthya Karyakram (RBSK) in Haryana, Principal Secretary, Health, Amit Jha, said on Friday. This programme will be launched with the support of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP).

Jha was speaking at a state level meeting held by major professional bodies and associations like IMA and IAP on Friday. The meeting was organised to explore the possibility of collaboration for better service access to children being identified under RBSK in the state.

During the meeting, IMA president promised to make an action plan for Retinopathy of Prematurity (RoP) Screening among babies born prematurely, with low birth weight or kept on ventilation after birth by engaging retina specialists practicing in different parts of Haryana.

He said that the private health care sector has a major role to play in hand to hand with government health care facilities for promoting good health among children from birth to 18-years of age. RBSK is one of the most ambitious health programme intended for early identification and early intervention to promote health and well being among children from birth to 18 years of age.

Jha said that every year more than three million children are being screened for different health conditions categorised broadly in four categories (4Ds) Defects at birth, Disease, Deficiency and Developmental Delays and Disabilities under RBSK. Out of these, around nine lakh children have been found positive who require intervention in terms of diagnostic, medical or surgical interventions at different levels. The Health Department is quite sensitive to provide all possible support to these children.

Mission Director, National Health Mission, Amneet P Kumar said that all the babies being born in government or private facilities would be screened for common birth defects and reported to the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) of the respective district for further support for early management.

She emphasised that many of the conditions if not detected on time can lead to life long irreversible disability. She said that private practitioners if found the child can be appropriately taken care under the RBSK programme as per the mandate of the programme can be referred to the DEIC for secondary or tertiary level treatment.