Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Era 2020 on Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (Rbsk) - National Child Health Program in India – a Cross-Sectional Comparative Research Study

In India because of the elevated birth rate and Brobdingnagian population (globally next to china) Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) (National Child Health program) is a significant measure by the Government of India, quite vital for public health care provision systems for reducing mortality in children (to achieve SDG goal), particularly within the current COVID-19 pandemic era throughout which most of the essential maternal- kid RCH (Reproductive and Child Health) health services were disrupted globally as well as in India. One of the researchers is a medical doctor who felt that the performance of RBSK during COVID-19 must be investigated to know the status of implementation of services during the pandemic crisis to alert policymakers if there is a disruption of these vital health services due to ongoing pandemic so that proper and timely action should be taken to rectify disruption if any during as well as after pandemic. This analysis study was done to supply significant information to the scientific community and decision-makers with concrete information analysis from authorized HMIS (Health Management data system) of Government - MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)) to provide the COVID-19 impact on RBSK services by public health care facilities across thirty-six states and UTs of India. This novel cross sectional research study revealed that COVID-19 period 2020 had a less number of Male/Female children identified with Disease (6 month to 18 years) screened by RBSK services mobile health teams at Govt and Govt aided schools and Anganwadi centre under RBSK services in India on an all India cumulative basis. This is clearly due to less number of screenings done during the COVID-19 era. The prevalence of Male/Female children identified with Disease (6 month to 18 years) / 1000 screened were 23.49, 31.18 and 29.72 for males and 22.37, 30.27 and 29.31 for females during 2018-2019-2020 respectively, is reduced during COVID-19 era is a good sign.Funding: None to declare. Declaration of Interest: None to declare.