Patna: All India Institute of Medical Sciences Patna on Sunday hosted a major nationwide newborn-care training initiative as healthcare professionals, government officials and neonatal experts gathered to mark National Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Day.
The campaign, organised by the National Neonatology Forum in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the State Health Society Bihar, UNICEF, the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India and the Trained Nurses’ Association of India, marked 35 years of neonatal resuscitation training in the country.
Organisers said the initiative aimed to train more than 18,000 healthcare providers in neonatal resuscitation techniques in a single day, describing it as one of the world’s largest capacity-building exercises in newborn care. The campaign has also been proposed for inclusion in the Limca Book of Records.
The programme aligns with India’s Newborn Action Plan, which targets reducing neonatal mortality to single digits by 2030.
The event began with the felicitation of dignitaries, followed by the National Song, a lamp-lighting ceremony and the National Anthem.
Chief guest Sanjay Jaiswal stressed the need to strengthen referral and stabilisation systems to ensure timely healthcare access for mothers and newborns. He said trained healthcare manpower remained central to reducing neonatal mortality and called for wider adoption of global best practices such as Kangaroo Mother Care and WHO-aligned newborn care standards.
He also praised the collaborative efforts of NNF, UNICEF and AIIMS Patna, saying such initiatives in training and capacity building would help improve neonatal healthcare outcomes in Bihar.
Monika Nielsen highlighted the importance of strengthening neonatal resuscitation skills among frontline healthcare workers, stating that timely intervention during the “First Golden Minute” could significantly improve newborn survival rates.
Prof (Brig) Raju Agarwal said Bihar would require sustained public health efforts, continuous training and strong institutional support to reduce neonatal mortality to single digits. He also stressed the need for regular skill reinforcement for professionals handling neonatal emergencies.
Addressing the gathering, Vivek said strengthening neonatal healthcare systems and developing skilled human resources were crucial to reducing preventable newborn deaths in India.
Lalan K Bharti said simple interventions such as neonatal resuscitation, Kangaroo Mother Care and exclusive breastfeeding could substantially reduce newborn mortality. He added that the nationwide campaign aimed to ensure that every delivery point in the country had at least one healthcare provider trained in neonatal resuscitation.
Among those present were Prof (Dr) Anup Kumar, Prof (Dr) Punam Prasad Bhadani, S.S. Reddy and Saranya Manickaraj.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr Bhabesh Kant Choudhary, Head of Neonatology at AIIMS Patna, followed by interactions among delegates, doctors and healthcare workers participating in the campaign.
