Child Health
A National Leader in Child Survival
Tamil Nadu continues to lead the country in child survival through sustained investments in health infrastructure, skilled healthcare professionals and community outreach programmes. The State has achieved an Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 11 per 1,000 live births (SRS 2024), along with a Neonatal Mortality Rate of 8 and an Under-Five Mortality Rate of 14, among the best child health indicators in India.11 / 1,000 Live BirthsInfant Mortality Rate
8Neonatal Mortality Rate
14
Under Five Mortality Rate
12 / 10
Rural / Urban IMR
Facility-Based Newborn Care
🍼 Newborn Care Corners (NBCCs)
Single-bedded newborn care stations established in every labour room and operation theatre provide:- Thermal protection
- Newborn resuscitation
- Early breastfeeding support
🛏️ Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSUs)
Four-bedded stabilization units provide emergency care for sick and low birth weight babies before referral. Units: 146 Newborns Stabilized: 11,793🏥 Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs)
Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Units providing round-the-clock care for critically ill and premature babies. SNCUs: 88 Newborns Treated: 1,12,358💊 Pachilam Kuzhanthai Pathukappu Pettagam
A Baby Care Kit containing:- Iron Drops
- Vitamin D3
- Multivitamin Drops
🌱 Extramural SNCUs
Dedicated neonatal care units for babies born outside tertiary hospitals. Medical Colleges:- Madurai
- Thanjavur
- Tirunelveli
- Villupuram
🤱 Mother & Newborn Care Units (MNCUs)
Zero Separation Model allowing mothers to stay continuously with their newborns. MNCUs: 7 Mother-Newborn Pairs: 5,876👧 Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs)
Comprehensive intensive care equipped with:- Ventilators
- CPAP
- Multi-parameter Monitors
🧬 Genetic Laboratories
Centres of Excellence established at:- ICH Egmore
- Madurai
- Coimbatore
🥣 Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs)
Therapeutic treatment for Severe and Moderate Acute Malnutrition. NRCs: 12 Children Treated: 5,668🍶 Lactation Management Network (CLMCs & LMUs)
A statewide donor human milk programme. 19 CLMCs Collected 9,245 litres benefiting 60,597 newborns. 27 LMUs Collected 2,773 litres benefiting 22,203 newborns.Community-Based Child Health Interventions
🏠 Home Based Newborn Care (HBNC)
HBNC ensures that every newborn receives essential healthcare during the first 42 days of life through scheduled home visits by Village Health Nurses (VHNs), Urban Health Nurses (UHNs), and ASHAs.- Seven scheduled home visits
- Essential newborn care
- Early identification of danger signs
- Timely referral to health facilities
7,03,346
👶 Home Based Young Child Care (HBYC)
HBYC extends continuum of care for children below two years through scheduled home visits focusing on growth monitoring, nutrition and developmental milestones.- Five scheduled visits
- Growth Monitoring
- Development Assessment
- Nutrition Counselling
- Linked with Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme
🤱 Mother’s Absolute Affection (MAA)
The MAA Programme promotes optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices by encouraging:- Breastfeeding within one hour of birth
- Exclusive breastfeeding for six months
- Appropriate complementary feeding
99%
Newborns Benefited: 7.90 Lakh💧 Anaemia Mukt Bharat
The programme prevents nutritional anaemia among children through Iron and Folic Acid supplementation.- Bi-weekly IFA Syrup (6–59 Months)
- Weekly IFA Tablets (5–9 Years)
- 42.47 Lakh Under-five Children
- 40.38 Lakh School-age Children
👁️ Vitamin A Supplementation
Biannual Vitamin A supplementation strengthens immunity, prevents childhood blindness and reduces deaths due to measles and diarrhoea. Children Covered (2025–26)89.79 Lakh
🪱 National Deworming Day (NDD)
Biannual Albendazole administration improves nutrition, learning ability and overall child health.- Age Group: 1–19 Years
- School-going & Non-school-going Children
💧 Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF)
Annual campaign promoting ORS and Zinc therapy along with awareness on diarrhoea prevention.- ORS Distribution
- Zinc Supplementation
- Household Awareness Campaigns
- Community Outreach
48.81 Lakh
Diarrhoea prevalence in Tamil Nadu remains significantly lower than the National Average.🫁 SAANS Programme
Social Awareness and Action to Neutralize Pneumonia (SAANS) focuses on early identification and prompt treatment of childhood pneumonia.- Community Awareness
- Early Diagnosis
- Prompt Referral
- Timely Treatment
27,388
☎️ Early Childhood Development (ECD) 102 Call Centre
A dedicated tele-counselling platform supporting mothers during the first 1,000 days of life. Services include:- Infant Nutrition Counselling
- Breastfeeding Support
- Early Childhood Development Guidance
- Parenting Advice
- Growth Monitoring Awareness