How new mother-newborn care unit at Safdarjung Hospital is saving lives
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.
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