COVID-19 testing not mandatory for maternal services
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday said that essential services for women, children and adolescents should be continued irrespective of their COVID-19 status.
Ministry’s Guidance Note on Provision of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services during and post COVID-19 pandemic” released on Wednesday.
The ministry stated that these essential services should be continued in a restricted manner in areas defined as containment and buffer zones.The guidance note elaborates that services such as antenatal and newborn care, immunization, family planning and adolescent health among others are to be provided at different levels in accordance with the zonal categorization of containment zones, buffer zones and beyond these zones.
“With more than 2.5 crore pregnancies each year in the country, it is important to ensure the availability of services during this period as any denial of services can have an impact on maternal and newborn mortalities, morbidities as well as the health care costs,” the guidelines stated.