Madhya Pradesh has achieved success in reduction of neonatal mortality rate by 3 points due to the relentless efforts of about one lakh field workers of the Health Department, including multi-purpose health workers, ANMs and ASHA workers. Besides, anganwadi workers of Women and Child Development Department also cooperate in running health programmes at the village level.
The ASHA workers have been made important link of health schemes in villages. They get monthly incentive money on the basis of their performance. A number of ASHA workers have earned upto `35,000 monthly incentive this year. At the national level, reduction in infant mortality rate by one point and neonatal mortality by 3 points has been registered. This reduction is by 3 and 4 points respectively in Madhya Pradesh which is better than the national average.
Among 20 States of the country, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have registered remarkable achievements in this sector. In the country, neonatal mortality rate came down by one point from 29 in 2012 to 8 in 2013.
In the State, this reduction was by 3 points from 39 to 36 in one year. Infant mortality rate in the State has declined by 4 points from 73 in 2012 to 69 in 2013. This is the best performance in 20 States. Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu-Kashmir, Punjab and West Bengal have stood second by reducing infant mortality rate by 3 points. Reduction in neonatal mortality rate by 3 points and infant mortality rate by 4 points in Madhya Pradesh is remarkable.
According to SRS Bulletin 2013 released by Registrar General of India, success has been achieved in saving lives of seriously ill, premature and extremely under-weight children with important and active contribution of health workers.
This success has been achieved in the State with launch of Mamta Abhiyan, distribution of CUG SIMs to health workers, constant training to workers and monitoring of schemes. Further success will be achieved in reduction of infant and maternal mortality rate in the State in future. In the State, special attention is being given to norms set by the Central Governments regarding this.
Arrangements of supportive supervision of seriously ill and weak children have also been made in the State. Public Health and Family Welfare Department is making maximum use of information technology. As many as 14 softwares are being developed for monitoring.