National Health Policy, 2017 provides a framework to strengthen healthcare system for attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Under this UHC, Government of India (GoI) is committed to provide appropriate healthcare to children including newborns across the country with a target to bring down the Neonatal Mortality Rate to single digit by 2030 and achieve the global goal of Child Mortality under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On November 20th, 2020, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, launched the revised training package for “Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (NSSK)”, to commemorate the National Newborn Week from 15th - 21st November, 2020. The event was attended virtually by Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission MoHFW, Additional Secretary, MoHFW Dr Manohar Agnani, Dr Sumita Ghosh, MoHFW, Ms. Camilla Dannevig, Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation, Royal Norwegian Embassy, India and Dr Soffia Osk Magnusdottir Dayal, Senior Adviser, Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Government of India has been implementing the NSSK since 2009 to build capacity of the doctors and nurses to provide essential newborn care around birth. GoI mandated Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) to support the revision of NSSK training package. Under the leadership of Child Health Division, MoHFW, NIPI in consultation with technical experts and other development partners supported the development of revised NSSK (2020) package. With advances in evidence-based critical care, the package has been updated with revised algorithm and improved training methodology. The revised NSSK curriculum & training package is anticipated to enable and assist healthcare providers in improving their clinical skills & practices and contribute to newborn survival and health in the country.

As part of the NSSK training package (2020) an NSSK Resource Manual and Flip Chart has been developed and presented in a pictorial format which also serves as a job-aid. The package emphasizes on the skill imparting techniques by the facilitators and ensures uniform messaging across all the levels. With this revised package, the training on essential newborn care and resuscitation will be more practical and the entire training experience will be enhanced leading to better learning outcomes.

NIPI intends to assist its supported states, and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in further operationalisation of the training packages. For more information visit www.nipi-cure.org