To create awareness and suggest measures for newborns’ health improvement, the Save the Children will organise a walkathon here on the occasion of the Newborn Care Week on Saturday.
Holding of such a programme is felt necessary as both the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) and the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) remain to be alarming in Odisha, feel organisers.
As per the Sample Registration Survey 2011, the IMR in Odisha was 53 per 1,000 live births against the national average of 42. Similarly, the NMR was 39 in Odisha as per SRS 2011.
Experts feel that since two-third of newborn deaths occurs during the first week of birth, it is very important to address the neonatal survival issues at all levels. To reduce the IMR, focus should be given during the neo-natal period, according to them.
The proposed ‘Mini Walkathon’ aims at generating awareness for developing better understanding on newborn care, informed Save the Children organisers.
The walkathon would begin from the Stewart School Road (near CBI office) at 7.15 am to the Sambad School of Media and Culture campus at the CRP Square.