Date: 2026-06-29Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda Launches Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK) at the 16th CCHFW Meeting to Strengthen Child Health and Early Childhood Development
**Executive Summary**
On June 29, 2026, Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK) during the 16th CCHFW meeting. This unified national programme integrates existing newborn and young child care frameworks into a single continuum of care for children from birth to 36 months. The initiative focuses on the critical first three years of life to improve child survival, nutrition, and early childhood development through risk-stratified home visits and digital tracking.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Program Integration and Vision**
* Consolidates Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care for Young Child (HBYC) into one comprehensive framework.
* Operates under the vision of "पहले तीन साल सम्पूर्ण देखभाल" (Comprehensive Care During the First Three Years).
* Prioritizes the first 28 days for survival and the first three years for optimal brain development and healthy growth.
**Risk-Stratified Approach**
* Identifies 'At-risk' children based on low birth weight, prematurity, malnutrition, developmental delays, or delayed breastfeeding.
* Provides intensified follow-up: up to nine home visits for 'At-risk' newborns in the first 42 days and up to eight visits for 'At-risk' children up to 36 months.
* Mandates joint home visits by ANMs and CHOs on Day 3 and Day 7 for newborns, and during the third and sixth months for children.
**Community-Based Platforms and Management**
* Introduces Well-Baby Sessions at every Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND).
* Establishes monthly Shishu Shivir at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for regular screening and developmental assessments.
* Incorporates post-partum maternal mental health screening conducted by ASHAs to ensure holistic well-being.
**Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Health Guidelines**
* Promotes "Nurturing Care" involving responsive caregiving, early learning, and age-appropriate play.
* Addresses digital era challenges by warning against excessive screen exposure and promoting physical activity.
* Implements tailored strategies for underserved populations, including those in slums and migrant settlements.
**Digital Integration**
* Utilizes Decision-Support Systems (DSS) and child-wise digital tracking for follow-up and case management.
* Integrates with national platforms including JANANI, U-WIN, POSHAN Tracker, and RBSK 2.0 portals.
* Enables seamless data exchange using ABHA and Baal-ABHA IDs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Newborns and Children (Birth to 36 months)**
**Impact**
They receive a seamless continuum of care, specialized attention for 'At-risk' conditions, and better monitoring for brain development and nutrition.
**Action Required**
Participate in scheduled home visits, Well-Baby Sessions, and screenings at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
**Mothers**
**Impact**
Mothers benefit from integrated post-partum mental health screenings and guidance on responsive caregiving and child safety.
**Action Required**
Engage in maternal mental health screenings and adopt recommended practices for early childhood stimulation and nutrition.
**Frontline Health Workers (ASHAs, ANMs, CHOs, and AWWs)**
**Impact**
The programme requires enhanced coordination for joint home visits and the use of digital tools for tracking and referrals.
**Action Required**
Conduct coordinated home visits, perform screenings, facilitate timely referrals, and maintain digital records through integrated portals and ABHA IDs.
**Underserved Communities (Slum and Migrant Populations)**
**Impact**
These groups receive targeted healthcare strategies to bridge gaps in home-based care accessibility.
**Action Required**
Utilize community-based health platforms like VHSND and Shishu Shivir for regular child health monitoring.
Key Entities Referenced
Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK): A unified national health programme launched to provide a seamless continuum of home and community-based care for children from birth to 36 months of age.
Central Council of Health & Family Welfare (CCHFW): The apex advisory body whose 16th meeting served as the official platform for the launch of new national child health initiatives.
Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care for Young Child (HBYC): Existing national health programmes integrated into the SSBSK framework to provide comprehensive care during the first three years of a child's life.
Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda: The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare who officially launched the SSBSK initiative and its operational guidelines.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: Designated healthcare facilities that facilitate monthly 'Shishu Shivir' for screening, developmental assessment, and management of children.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda
Launches Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya
Karyakram (SSBSK) at the 16th CCHFW Meeting
to Strengthen Child Health and Early Childhood
Development
Unified national programme to provide seamless continuum
of home and community-based care from birth to 36 months
प्रव तथ: 29 JUN 2026 6:42PM by PIB Delhi
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 सूण 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.
*****
SR
HFW/ HFM launches SSBSK /29 June 2026/12
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