Remarkable decline of three points has been registered in newborn mortality rate in Madhya Pradesh.
At the national level, newborn mortality rate declined by one point and infant mortality rate by three points whereas in MP newborn mortality rate declined by three points and infant mortality rate by four points. According to SRS Bulletin, 2013, issued by the Registrar-General of India, New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh has achieved this success by establishing newborn intensive care units to save the lives of the seriously ill or premature or underweight newborns. So far, these units have treated over 2.86 lakh and saved the lives of 2.5 lakh newborns. The number of newborns saved from dying within 24 hours after birth stood at 21,000 this year and those of under-5 children 29,000.
Following implementation of Mamta Abhiyan in Madhya Pradesh this year, more success will be achieved in reducing untimely deaths of newborns and women. The norms prescribed by Government of India for reducing the rate of newborn mortality include quality pre and post-natal caretaking. Maximum attention is being paid to this in the State. Besides, arrangements have been made in the State for regular monitoring of seriously ill and weak newborns and supportive supervision through Mamta Abhiyan.
CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Health and Family Welfare Minister Narottam Mishra and Chief Secretary Anthony DeSa have congratulated officials of the Health department on this achievement. The Chief Secretary has directed to make health services more dynamic. Principal Secretary Health Praveer Krishna while congratulating all health workers has urged them to continue better caretaking of the health of the infants and the mothers.