The Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK), a program by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is designed to equip healthcare providers with the essential skills and knowledge to provide quality care to newborns, particularly during the critical moments around birth. This resource manual outlines the operational guidelines for the program, focusing on resuscitation and essential newborn care.
Objectives of the NSSK
The NSSK aims to:
-
Improve Newborn Survival: Reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity by ensuring that newborns receive timely and appropriate care.
-
Enhance Provider Skills: Equip healthcare providers with the necessary skills in newborn resuscitation and essential newborn care.
-
Promote Best Practices: Implement evidence-based practices for managing common neonatal problems.
-
Standardize Care: Ensure uniform and high-quality care is provided across all health facilities.
-
Provide a Resource: Serve as a reference manual for healthcare providers involved in newborn care.
Key Components of the NSSK Training Program
The NSSK training program is a customized two-day clinical update and skill standardization program, focusing on:
-
Basic Newborn Care: Essential care practices for all newborns, including thermal management, cord care, and eye care.
-
Newborn Resuscitation: Essential steps for resuscitating newborns who have difficulty breathing at birth.
-
Breastfeeding Support: Promoting early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
-
Management of Common Neonatal Problems: Addressing issues such as hypothermia, hypoglycemia, infections, and feeding difficulties.
-
Referral and Transport: Ensuring timely referral and safe transport of sick newborns to appropriate facilities.
Key Elements of Newborn Care
The resource manual emphasizes the following key elements of newborn care:
-
Initial Assessment: Assessing the baby at birth for breathing, heart rate, and color.
-
Drying and Warming: Receiving the baby in a warm and dry linen, placing the baby skin-to-skin with the mother, and covering the baby with a warm blanket.
-
Airway Management: Positioning the head, clearing the airway by suctioning the mouth and nose, and ensuring proper ventilation.
-
Resuscitation: Initiating bag and mask ventilation with room air and, if needed, oxygen.
-
Heart Rate Assessment: Evaluating heart rate using a stethoscope and counting it for six seconds and multiplying by 10.
-
Monitoring: Regular monitoring of the baby’s temperature, heart rate, breathing, and color.
-
Breastfeeding: Encouraging early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding.
-
Infection Prevention: Implementing clean delivery practices and proper hygiene.
Essential Equipment and Supplies
The resource manual details the essential equipment and supplies required for newborn care and resuscitation, including:
-
Radiant warmer
-
Self-inflating bag and mask
-
Suction machine and catheters
-
Stethoscope
-
Oxygen source and nasal prongs
-
Thermometer
-
Gloves
-
Cord clamps
-
Syringes and needles
-
Medications
Specific Guidance on Key Procedures
The manual provides detailed instructions on:
-
Using Bag and Mask Ventilation: Proper positioning, sealing the mask, and delivering effective breaths.
-
Managing Inadequate Chest Rise: Corrective steps to improve ventilation when chest movement is absent or inadequate.
-
Recognizing Signs of Sickness: Identifying danger signs that indicate the need for immediate medical attention.
-
Ensuring Warmth: Maintaining the baby’s temperature through skin-to-skin contact and proper wrapping.
-
Assessing Breastfeeding: Evaluating the effectiveness of breastfeeding and providing support as needed.
-
Safe Transportation: Ensuring safe transport of sick newborns to higher-level facilities.
Training and Capacity Building
The NSSK training program emphasizes:
-
Participatory Training: Using interactive methods to make sessions engaging and effective.
-
Skill Standardization: Ensuring that all participants acquire the same skill set.
-
Hands-On Practice: Providing ample opportunities for hands-on practice using mannequins and equipment.
-
Use of Visual Aids: Employing flip charts and other visual aids to facilitate learning.
Conclusion
The Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK) is a critical initiative that empowers healthcare providers with the essential skills and knowledge to improve newborn survival in India. By focusing on early resuscitation and essential newborn care, the program contributes to the reduction of neonatal mortality and morbidity, and ensures that all newborns have a healthy start to life.