The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare held a two-day national workshop on August 24-25, 2026, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, to strengthen implementation of the Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK). The programme, launched in June 2026, aims to improve health outcomes for newborns and children up to three years of age across India. Senior health officials from all 36 States and Union Territories, along with development partners, attended to discuss how to translate the scheme’s guidelines into effective ground-level action.
What SSBSK Covers
The Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram integrates earlier home-based newborn care and young child care programmes into a single, unified approach. It focuses on the period from birth to 36 months, with special attention to the first seven days of life and the first three years, which are critical for survival and brain development. The scheme emphasizes risk-differentiated care, meaning children identified as at-risk receive intensified follow-up, additional home visits and closer monitoring compared to others.
A central tool for SSBSK is the Shaishav App, a digital platform designed to:
- Identify and track at-risk newborns and children
- Schedule and monitor home visits
- Follow up on referrals to health facilities
- Enable supportive supervision and programme monitoring
- Create a continuous child health record as the child grows
The workshop highlighted the importance of joint home visits by frontline workers and primary healthcare teams for at-risk children, alongside coordinated care involving ASHAs, health workers, Anganwadi staff and medical officers. Additional focus areas include maternal postnatal care, infant feeding, growth monitoring, recognition of danger signs and early identification of developmental concerns.
What This Means for You
If you have a newborn or young child, SSBSK aims to ensure they receive regular home visits, monitoring and early identification of health problems, rather than waiting for problems to become severe. At-risk children, including those born prematurely or with low birth weight, will get additional attention and follow-up. The digital Shaishav App will help health workers and facilities maintain continuous records of your child’s progress and coordinate care across home and clinic settings. Families are expected to participate actively in nurturing care, responsive play and early learning as part of the programme’s approach.