Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram RBSK

nd lifelong disability. Under National Rural Health Mission, significant progress has been made in reducing mortality in children over the last seven years (2005-12). Whereas there is an escalation of reducing child mortality there is a dire need to improve survival outcome. This would be reached by early detection and management of conditions that were not addressed comprehensively in the past. According to March of Dimes (2006), out of every 100 babies born in this country annually, 6 to 7 have a birth defect. This would translate to around 17 lakhs birth defects annually in the country and accounts for 9.6% of all the newborn deaths. Various nutritional deficiencies affecting the preschool children range from 4 per cent to 70 per cent. Developmental delays are common in early childhood affecting at least 10 percent of the children. These delays if not intervened timely may lead to permanent disabilities including cognitive, hearing or vision impairment. Also, there are group of diseases common in children viz. dental caries, rheumatic heart disease, reactive airways diseases etc. Early detection and management diseases including deficiencies bring added value in preventing these conditions to progress to its more severe and debilitating form and thereby reducing hospitalization and improving implementation of Right to Education. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is a new initiative aiming at early identification and early intervention for children from birth to 18 years to cover 4 ‘D’s viz. Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Development delays including disability. The launch of this programme assumes great significance as it corresponds to the release of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Adolescent Health strategy (RMNCH+A) and also with the Child Survival and Development – A Call to Action summit held from Feb 7 – 9, 2013 in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. It is important to note that the 0-6 years age group will be specifically managed at District Early Intervention Center (DEIC) level while for 6-18 years age group, management of conditions will be done through existing public health facilities. DEIC will act as referral linkages for both the age groups. First level of screening is to be done at all delivery points through existing Medical Officers, Staff Nurses and ANMs. After 48 hours till 6 weeks the screening of newborns will be done by ASHA at home as a part of HBNC package. Outreach screening will be done by dedicated mobile block level teams for 6 weeks to 6 years at anganwadis centres and 6-18 years children at school. Once the child is screened and referred from any of these points of identification, it would be ensured that the necessary treatment/intervention is delivered at zero cost to the family.