On Monday, the Delhi government launched Neonatal Early Evaluation Vision (NEEV) covering almost 1.5 lakh newborns to tackle visible, functional and metabolic defects in them. Health Minister Satyendar Jain had laid the foundation of NEEV at Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC).

The government said in a statement that this scheme is supported by the Delhi government and Delhi State Health Mission under the Rashtriya Baal Swasthya Karyakram. While speaking on the occasion, Jain highlighted that attention on newborn screening is an important public health initiative.

He said that with the programme being implemented at many government hospitals, newborns who do not have clinically evident disease like congenital hypothyroidism, critical congenital heart disease and hearing loss will be chosen early and treatment can be initiated soon.

They have started this initiative at 31 birthing facilities with the highest load and this will be expanded later to all delivery points and other birthing facilities.

Seema Kapoor, Director, Mission NEEV, said that the initiative is meant to pick up these disorders in the pre-emptive phase. She said in the statement that taking into account these disorders are associated with high mortality and morbidity and are is likely to reduce with implementation of this programme. This initiative will bring the message that being proactive rather than reactive is the right approach.

Source: ET Healthworld