• This campaign is an effort for observing World’s Birth defect day, which is observed on 3rd of March every year and the National Birth Defect Awareness Month is an initiative in raising awareness for all birth defects and improve the care and treatment for children.

Six percent of children are born with Birth Defects every year worldwide.

• The theme of this National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024 is “Breaking Barriers: inclusive support for children with birth defects”.
• The birth defects awareness campaign would be focusing on the awareness about prevention, early identification and timely management.
• The month-long activities are planned under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram of Child Health division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
• RBSK focuses on early identification and management of birth defects to minimize disability.
• To achieve this objective, the program screens the children at four different levels–
  • Comprehensive New born screening at Delivery points
  • Screening for visible birth defects in New born by ASHA during home visitation
  • Children (6 weeks to 6 years) bi-annually screening at Anganwadis
  • Children (6 years to 18 years) screening at Government and Government aided schools once a year

FACTS

• As per Sample Registration System 2020 Report, presently-
  • The Neonatal mortality rate is 20 per 1000 live births,
  • Infant mortality rate is 28 per 1000 live births and
  • Under 5 mortality rate is 32 per 1000 live births
• As per Cause of Death Statistics 2017-19 report of Sample Registration System under Registrar General of India, Birth Defect contributes to 4.9% defects of neonatal mortality and 5.7% of U5MR mortality.