India Receives WHO Honor for Sustaining Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination

World Health Organization announced it is honouring India for sustaining the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus, highlighting the country's continued success in keeping the disease at zero incidence after its initial eradication declaration.

India achieved this milestone through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s nationwide immunisation campaigns, which maintain high tetanus toxoid vaccine coverage among pregnant women during routine antenatal visits and ensure newborn protection across all states.

Maternal Health Program officials cited the latest annual surveillance reports from state health departments showing zero reported cases of maternal or neonatal tetanus, confirming the effectiveness of routine antenatal care, skilled birth attendance and community outreach efforts.

Public Health Experts said the WHO recognition underscores the importance of ongoing surveillance, robust cold‑chain management, continuous health‑worker training and regular monitoring to prevent any resurgence, urging the global health community to replicate India’s model.