Two-thirds of the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) contributes to the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the country. And birth asphyxia is the main cause of neonatal death in the country, including Odisha.
In the Odisha context, the IMR during 2012-13 was 53 per 1,000 births whereas the NMR was 37, informed pediatrics consultant Dr Aditya Mohapatra here on Wednesday. He further said the neonatal death cases are more prevalent in districts like Balangir, Bargarh, Kandhamal, Dhenkanal, Boudh and Khordha.
Keeping this in view, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in partnership with the Johnson & Johnson is conducting a Neonatal Resuscitation Programme (NRP) for medical staffs in charge of delivery in various private hospitals, ANM and GNM training centres free- of-cost. It trains the delivery staffs on various skills and hands-on training related to all the essential care of newborn and resuscitation.
“While the present NMR stands at 39 in the State, the target is to bring it down to below 30 by 2017,” added Dr Mohapatra, who is the State Academic Coordinator of IAP.
The aim of the NRP program is to have at least one birth attendant trained in neonatal resuscitation at every birth station in order to reduce the IMR in the country. The program has covered 11 districts, including Bargarh, Balangir, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Baleswar, Angul, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Khordha, Gajnam and Mayurbhanj in the State. So far, 1,500 healthcare providers have been trained by 129 pediatricians in the State. Among others, IAP Executive Board member Dr Sanjeev Goel and J&J India National Manager (PPP) Manish Tandon spoke on the occasion.