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Rachel V Thomas

India Earns WHO Recognition For Sustaining Tetanus Elimination For 10 Years: How Mothers And Newborns Were Protected

The World Health Organization (<span>WHO</span>) today recognized India for sustaining maternal and <span>neonatal tetanus elimination</span> for a decade.

The recognition came during the 79th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia in Dili, Timor-Leste, and was received by Union Health Minister <span>JP Nadda</span>.

“A proud moment for India at the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia!” the Health Ministry said in a post on X.

India was also honored for its “strong leadership in tackling NCDs through primary health care, with national targets achieved for protocol-based management of hypertension and diabetes.”

The Ministry described the recognition as “a tribute to our frontline health workers, whose dedication continues to strengthen India’s health system and improve health outcomes for all.”

<h2>India’s Journey Towards <span rel="noindex">Tetanus</span> Elimination</h2>

India was validated for maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) in April 2015, ahead of the global target of December 2015.

The country completed validation across all 36 states and union territories.

The achievement was driven by high routine immunization coverage, institutional births, clean delivery and clean cord practices, and an effective surveillance system.

Elimination as a public health problem means the annual rate of maternal and neonatal tetanus is less than one case per 1,000 live births.

<strong>Also read:</strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/indigenous-td-vaccine-rollout-in-india-to-boost-immunity-in-children-adults-say-experts-article-153684384" data-type="tilCustomLink">Indigenous Td Vaccine Rollout In India To Boost Immunity In Children, Adults, Say Experts</a>

<h2>How Were Mothers and <span rel="noindex">Newborns</span> Protected?</h2>

The risk of tetanus infection in mothers and newborns is linked to unsafe deliveries, particularly those taking place in insanitary conditions or assisted by untrained traditional birth attendants, or dais.

In the 1980s, more than one million deaths every year were attributed to tetanus, with an estimated 787,000 deaths from neonatal tetanus alone in India in 1988.

In 1989, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to eliminate neonatal tetanus by 1995 through increased availability of tetanus toxoid vaccine.

In the early 1990s, maternal tetanus was estimated to account for about 5% of maternal mortality, or 15,000–30,000 deaths every year.

In 1999, maternal tetanus elimination was added to the neonatal tetanus elimination program, which was renamed the Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) Program.

"Tetanus is a dangerous disease that accounted for hundreds of thousands of deaths in the past, mainly among newborn babies. These babies were at risk because deliveries were often conducted in unclean settings where it was easy for the freshly cut umbilical stump to get infected with the spores of tetanus bacteria from the environment," Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, told <strong><em>HealthandMe</em></strong>.

He said that the infection rate dropped drastically after shifting deliveries to clean hospital facilities, conducted by professionals using sterile instruments.

"Simultaneously, widespread vaccination of pregnant women ensured that maternal protective antibodies were transferred across the placenta, giving babies built-in immunity right from birth," the expert added.

<strong>Read More: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/thailand-eliminates-rubella-how-this-vaccine-preventable-virus-causes-birth-defects-article-156117111" data-type="tilCustomLink">Thailand Eliminates Rubella: How This Vaccine-Preventable Virus Causes Birth Defects</a>

<h2>TT Immunization During Pregnancy</h2>

TT immunization during pregnancy played a major role in reducing maternal and neonatal tetanus cases.

The MNTE program focused on strengthening routine immunization, including tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccine coverage, improving clean delivery practices through institutional births and training birth attendants.

The launch of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005 further strengthened these initiatives. Schemes promoting safe motherhood, including the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), also gave the program a boost.

<h2><span rel="noindex">Mission Indradhanush</span> and Immunization Coverage</h2>

Further, Mission Indradhanush launched in 2014, set a goal of increasing immunization coverage by 5% every year.

Focusing on 201 districts with low routine immunization performance, the initiative reached children who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against seven vaccine-preventable diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B.

Greater awareness about the availability, safety and efficacy of life-saving vaccines, the importance of safe deliveries and government entitlements for pregnant women contributed to increased immunization coverage and helped India achieve maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination.

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India Sustains Tetanus Elimination For 10 Years

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The World Health Organization (WHO) today recognized India for sustaining maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination for a decade.The recognition came during the 79th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia in Dili, Timor-Leste, and was received by Union Health Minister JP Nadda.“A proud moment for India at the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia!” the Health Ministry said in a post on X.India was also honored for its “strong leadership in tackling NCDs through primary health care, with national targets achieved for protocol-based management of hypertension and diabetes.”The Ministry described the recognition as “a tribute to our frontline health workers, whose dedication continues to strengthen India’s health system and improve health outcomes for all.”India’s Journey Towards Tetanus EliminationIndia was validated for maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) in April 2015, ahead of the global target of December 2015.The country completed validation across all 36 states and union territories.The achievement was driven by high routine immunization coverage, institutional births, clean delivery and clean cord practices, and an effective surveillance system.Elimination as a public health problem means the annual rate of maternal and neonatal tetanus is less than one case per 1,000 live births.Also read:Indigenous Td Vaccine Rollout In India To Boost Immunity In Children, Adults, Say ExpertsHow Were Mothers and Newborns Protected?The risk of tetanus infection in mothers and newborns is linked to unsafe deliveries, particularly those taking place in insanitary conditions or assisted by untrained traditional birth attendants, or dais.In the 1980s, more than one million deaths every year were attributed to tetanus, with an estimated 787,000 deaths from neonatal tetanus alone in India in 1988.In 1989, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to eliminate neonatal tetanus by 1995 through increased availability of tetanus toxoid vaccine.In the early 1990s, maternal tetanus was estimated to account for about 5% of maternal mortality, or 15,000–30,000 deaths every year.In 1999, maternal tetanus elimination was added to the neonatal tetanus elimination program, which was renamed the Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) Program."Tetanus is a dangerous disease that accounted for hundreds of thousands of deaths in the past, mainly among newborn babies. These babies were at risk because deliveries were often conducted in unclean settings where it was easy for the freshly cut umbilical stump to get infected with the spores of tetanus bacteria from the environment," Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, told HealthandMe.He said that the infection rate dropped drastically after shifting deliveries to clean hospital facilities, conducted by professionals using sterile instruments."Simultaneously, widespread vaccination of pregnant women ensured that maternal protective antibodies were transferred across the placenta, giving babies built-in immunity right from birth," the expert added.Read More: Thailand Eliminates Rubella: How This Vaccine-Preventable Virus Causes Birth DefectsTT Immunization During PregnancyTT immunization during pregnancy played a major role in reducing maternal and neonatal tetanus cases.The MNTE program focused on strengthening routine immunization, including tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccine coverage, improving clean delivery practices through institutional births and training birth attendants.The launch of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005 further strengthened these initiatives. Schemes promoting safe motherhood, including the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), also gave the program a boost.Mission Indradhanush and Immunization CoverageFurther, Mission Indradhanush launched in 2014, set a goal of increasing immunization coverage by 5% every year.Focusing on 201 districts with low routine immunization performance, the initiative reached children who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against seven vaccine-preventable diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B.Greater awareness about the availability, safety and efficacy of life-saving vaccines, the importance of safe deliveries and government entitlements for pregnant women contributed to increased immunization coverage and helped India achieve maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination.

india earns who recognition for sustaining tetanus elimination for 10 years: how mothers and newborns were protected

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