012. Triple Elimination – Shielding Tomorrow in the Womb Today 👶
Health, Governance, Maternal & Child Care, Public Health
By IAS Monk / April 2, 2025
West Bengal has stepped into public health history with the Triple Elimination Initiative, a collaborative programme to eradicate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B by 2026.
Backed by the William J Clinton Foundation, WHO, and India’s own NACO & NHM, this project aims to break three chains of infection—with one integrated healthcare force.
🌍 What is Triple Elimination?
- Unified strategy to eliminate vertical transmission of:
➤ HIV
➤ Syphilis
➤ Hepatitis B - Focuses on screening, treatment, counselling, and safe delivery
🩺 Screening & Treatment
- Every pregnant woman screened for all 3 diseases
- Positive cases receive immediate care & institutional delivery
- Newborns of Hepatitis B mothers get:
➤ Zero dose Hep B vaccine
➤ HBIG injection within 24 hours
🏥 Pilot to State-Wide Model
| Phase | Coverage |
|---|---|
| April 2024 | Pilot in 4 districts (Coochbehar, Rampurhat, S 24 Parganas, Diamond Harbour) |
| March 2025 | Expanded to all 23 districts |
- State Task Force + Technical Advisory Group formed for monitoring
🔄 Innovation in Access
- Syphilis services decentralised to block level
- HIV & Hepatitis positive deliveries now handled locally
- Hyperlocal system ensures minimal travel + reduced stigma
🌟 Impact & National Potential
- Model for India-wide adoption
- Supported by NACO & NHM
- Can reduce newborn morbidity, mortality, and long-term complications
📚 Relevance for UPSC
- GS2: Health, Governance, Women & Child Development
- GS3: Inclusive Infrastructure, Policy Innovation
- Essay: “A nation’s future begins in the womb of care.”
✨ Closing Whisper
“To heal a child before they are born is to rewrite destiny with care.”
🔥 A Thought Spark – by IAS Monk
When three threats converge, the answer must be courage, not fragmentation.
West Bengal’s Triple Elimination is healthcare as wholeness—a circle of protection drawn at birth.
May this light extend across India, where prevention becomes the first love letter to life.
Shall I prepare the Tablet now, V? I imagine soft maternal hues—light pink and dusky lavender, with gentle icons for each disease forming a protective circle 🫂🌸
