The alliance's board has already approved ambitious programs for 2006 to expand measles coverage in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as to help eradicate polio worldwide and increase the use of maternal and neonatal tetanus vaccines.
To study the epidemiology, clinical presentation and outcome of all patients diagnosed with neonatal tetanus and to provide a recommendation for maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination.
Maternal and neonatal tetanus has been eliminated in India.
China and India have focused on maternal and neonatal tetanus.
The entire South-East Asia Region has now achieved elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus, becoming the second region, after Europe, to achieve the feat.
Yet India has shown by its elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus that prevention, even in poorly served areas, is possible.
That number of deaths globally has been reduced by over 90% and maternal and neonatal tetanus has been eliminated from all but 19 countries.
From eliminating polio and maternal and neonatal tetanus to reducing preventable maternal and child mortality, the Indian government, with technical support from support WHO, has conceived and implemented many successful health initiatives.
The vaccine to prevent maternal and neonatal tetanus was introduced in 103 countries by the end of 2015 and an estimated 83% of newborns were protected against tetanus through timely maternal immunization.
Progress in public health sometimes feels slow, but the recent announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) that India had eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus is cause for celebration.
Maternal and neonatal tetanus has been eliminated.
