India today received certificates from World Health Organisation recognising the elimination of Yaws and Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) from the country.
"Proud to have received WHO's certificates for MNTE & Yaws-free India at #RC69, Colombo," Union Health Minister J P Nadda tweeted.
Nadda received the certificate from WHO Director General Margaret Chan and its South East Asian Region Director General Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
In May this year, WHO had declared India yaws-free after a team of experts verified interruption of disease transmission in the country.
India is the first country under the 2012 WHO neglected tropical diseases (NTD) roadmap to eliminate yaws, a disease known to affect the most underserved population.
India had eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus which the WHO had termed a "major" public health feat.
Until a few decades ago India reported 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 neonatal tetanus cases annually which was reduced to less than one case per 1 000 live births in all 675 districts.
Poonam Khetrapal Singh while felicitating India on yaws and maternal and neonatal tetanus recently had said the focussed approach on making maternal and newborn care accessible to all and addressing healthcare equity more generally has made these remarkable successes possible.
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