Gujarat government announces Atal Screening of Newborn for Enhancement of Health (SNEH) Scheme

Gujarat government has proposed to launch Atal Screening of Newborn for Enhancement of Health (SNEH) Yojna in the state on December 25 to mark former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee’s birthday. Under this scheme, the newborns would be tested for birth defects such as neural tube defects, cleft lip and palate, clubbed foot, congenital heart diseases, deafness, cataract and Down’s syndrome among others.

Under the proposed Atal SNEH scheme, a team of doctors, female health workers and officials of child protection department would pay a visit to both the government as well as private hospitals to check the health of all the newborn babies. Those babies having critical ailments would be referred to nearby medical centres for better treatment.