India eliminating maternal, neonatal tetanus is a tremendous achievement: World Health Organisation

India's elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus is a "momentous public health feat" which shows the country's strong commitment and leadership, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

WHO said that the strong commitment has also helped improve access to immunisation, antenatal care services and skilled birth attendance in the most vulnerable populations.

The statement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing Global 'Call to Action' Summit 2015 on Thursday, said that the country has eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus much before the target date set for December this year and described the achievement as a "major milestone.

"India has achieved a momentous public health feat the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus. MNT elimination demonstrates India's strong commitment and leadership that helped improve access to immunisation.

"...antenatal care services and skilled birth attendance in the most vulnerable populations the poor, the remote and isolated communities where hygienic obstetric, postnatal practices and other health services were suboptimal or not accessible," said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

MNTE has been reduced to less than one case per 1,000 live births in all 675 districts of India and WHO has validated this achievement adding India to the list of countries that have successfully battled this killer disease, she said.

"This is a huge achievement for India which until a few decades ago reported 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 neonatal tetanus cases annually," she said.

In many developing countries, deliveries take place in unhygienic circumstances, putting mothers and their newborns at risk for a variety of life-threatening infections.

Maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) have been among the most common lethal consequences of unclean deliveries and umbilical cord care practices. When tetanus develops, mortality rates are extremely high, especially when appropriate medical care is not available.