In a significant step towards strengthening newborn and child healthcare services across the country, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, today launched the Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK), a unified national programme that provides a seamless continuum of home and community-based care for every child from birth to 36 months of age.
The programme embodies the vision of "पहले तीन साल सम्पूर्ण देखभाल" (Comprehensive Care During the First Three Years) by integrating the existing Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care for Young Child (HBYC) programmes into a single comprehensive framework.
The initiative recognises the critical importance of the first 28 days for newborn survival and the first three years for optimal brain development, while strengthening child survival, nutrition, healthy growth and early childhood development through an integrated approach.
A key feature of SSBSK is the introduction of a risk-stratified approach for newborns and young children identified as 'At-risk' due to conditions such as low birth weight, prematurity, delayed initiation of breastfeeding, discharge from newborn care units, malnutrition, recurrent illness or developmental delays.
These children will receive intensified follow-up through additional home visits tailored to their level of risk. Under the programme, 'At-risk' newborns will receive up to nine home visits during the first 42 days of life, while 'At-risk' children will receive up to eight home visits up to the age of 36 months.
The programme further strengthens continuity of care through coordinated home visits by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Community Health Officers (CHOs) and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs). Joint home visits by ANMs and CHOs have been incorporated on Day 3 and Day 7 for 'At-risk' newborns, and during the third and sixth months for 'At-risk' children.
These coordinated interventions are designed to facilitate timely assessment, counselling and referral whenever required. To strengthen early identification and management of vulnerable children, SSBSK introduces Well-Baby Sessions at every Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) and a monthly Shishu Shivir at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
These platforms will facilitate regular screening, developmental assessment and comprehensive management of newborns and young children within the community. Recognising the close interdependence between maternal and child well-being, SSBSK incorporates post-partum maternal mental health screening as an integral component of community-based care.
ASHAs will undertake early screening and facilitate timely referral for further assessment and support whenever necessary. The programme also mainstreams Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development (ECD) by promoting responsive caregiving, early learning opportunities, age-appropriate play, child safety and active family engagement during every home visit and community interaction.
The programme envisages the extensive use of digital technologies to enhance service delivery, monitoring and continuity of care. Decision-Support Systems (DSS), child-wise digital tracking, referral mechanisms and alert systems will strengthen follow-up and case management of 'At-risk' newborns and children.
These digital systems will be integrated with national digital health platforms, including the JANANI Portal, U-WIN Portal, MPCDSR Portal, RBSK 2.0 Portal and POSHAN Tracker, enabling seamless data exchange through ABHA and Baal-ABHA IDs. The programme also includes tailored strategies to strengthen home-based care in urban areas, particularly for children residing in slums, migrant settlements and other underserved communities.
The guidelines further address emerging challenges associated with the digital era by recognising excessive screen exposure and reduced physical interaction during early childhood as potential risks to brain development, emotional well-being and social skills.
Accordingly, SSBSK promotes age-appropriate play, physical activity and mental stimulation throughout the first three years of life to support children's cognitive, physical, emotional and social development. The launch of the Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram marks a significant milestone in the Government's efforts to strengthen the continuum of maternal, newborn and child healthcare through a nurturing, inclusive and digitally enabled approach.