Battling to save its newborns, Haryana is all set to introduce rotavirus vaccine from February onwards, aimed at bringing down the high infant mortality rate in the State.
Haryana, known for its abysmally high infant mortality rate (IMR) would be among four Indian states to launch the latest three-dose vaccine that will play a crucial role in preventing the diarrhea due to rotavirus, which is responsible for large number of infant deaths.
The IMR in Haryana stood at 41 in 2013, exceeding the national average of 40. IMR is defined as the number of infants’ death (mortality within one year of birth) per thousand live births.
As per the officials of Haryana Health Department, each year diarrhaea caused by rotavirus kills nearly 2000 children under the age of five years.
The rotavirus, which is one of the most common causes of diarrhoea leads to over 10 lakh hospitalisations and kills nearly 80,000 children under the age of five every year in the country.
While talking to The Pioneer, Dr Suresh Dalpath, Deputy Director (Child Health), Haryana said, “The rotavirus immunization is expected to help in significant reduction in infant deaths due to rotavirus diarrhoea in the state.
According to the State Government, the neonatal mortality and early neonatal mortality rate in Haryana is 26 per thousand live births and 19 per thousand live birth respectively, two points below the national average of 28 and 21 per thousand live birth. And, a majority (nearly 65 percent) of deaths during the first year of child life is contributed by neonatal (first month) mortality. The districts namely Mewat, Karnal, Panipat, Bhiwani and Kaithal have high IMR in Haryana.
Dr Suresh said, “At present, ensuring immunization against infectious diseases and providing better newborn care services remain the priority of the Health Department to bring down the high IMR in the state. As a part of series of initiatives to be undertaken to improve child health services and reduce neonatal, infant and child mortality, the State Government would be launching the rotavirus vaccine.”
The neonatal mortality is one of the major contributors to the high infant mortality in the state, informed he. Under this immunization programme, vaccine would be available at all government health facilities free of cost and would be given to all children at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age. At present, this vaccine is available in the private sector at Rs 3000 for a full course.
Notably, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij had in May 2015, written a letter to Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda for including Haryana in the universal immunization programme. Following this, Haryana was selected for the implementation of pilot project of rotavirus vaccine.
As per the statistics, around 1.7 million under 5 children die every year in India and 13 per cent of these deaths were due to diarrhea. Rotavirus accounts for 40 per cent of hospitalizations due to diarrhea in children.
last year, Haryana had become the first state in the country to launch ‘Mission Indradhanush’ in the entire state. The state had launched the first round of ‘Mission Indradhanush’ in 13 districts from April 7 to 13 and later, the second phase was rolled out in all 21 districts of the state in May.
The level of immunization in Haryana is 72 per cent which is far behind the immunization level of the other progressive states of the country, according to the officials of Health Department.
The State Govenment has also decided to implement state newborn action plan to reduce the IMR in Haryana.