WHO congratulates India on Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination. India has achieved a momentous public health feat – the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus. Maternal and neonatal tetanus is reduced to less than one case per 1,000 live births in all 675 districts of the country.
WHO has validated this achievement adding India to the list of countries that have successfully battled this killer disease. This is a huge achievement for India which until a few decades ago reported 150,000 to 200,000 neonatal tetanus cases annually. Maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) demonstrates India’s strong commitment and leadership that helped improve access to immunization, antenatal care services and skilled birth attendance in the most vulnerable populations – the poor, the remote and isolated communities - where hygienic obstetric, postnatal practices and other health…
