Stressing on importance of good health of mother and child in nation building Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav declared that State Government would observe 2015-16 as the health year of Mother and child. Addressing the gathering at his official residence in presence of several ministers and dignitaries Yadav said that awareness is required to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Mother Mortality Rate (MMR).
“UP government has already announced 2015 as ‘ Kisan year’ and now the mother and children health year has been added to it which will help in focusing the problem of villages,” Chief Minister said adding that the Samajwadi Party government always talks about problems people are facing and tries to solve them after taking suggestions from the masses.
He appreciated the Milinda Gates Foundation and Parth Foundation for giving technical assistance to UP government for the mother and children health programmes. On the occasion, the Chief Minister launched a website’ Hausla Sajhedari’ and handed over high risk pregnancy tracking tablet to the health workers. He also released several booklets on Diarrhea and other diseases on the occasion.
Earlier, SP MP from Kannauj Dimple Yadav, who is the wife of Chief Minister, said that children are the future of the country and their well being should be on the top priority. She lauded the role of Asha Bahus and Anganwadi workers in serving the people in the rural areas.
She also talked about the prevalence of Japanese encephalitis, Diarrhea and pneumonia which is causing death of large scale children in the state. King George Medical University (KGMU) Vice- chancellor Dr Ravi Kant said that UP should adopt the Kerala model to address the mother and child health by focusing on female literacy. He also urged to promote use of iron utensils for cooking food which will give iron to the women.
UP Minister of state for health Shankh lal Manjhi said that there is still a shortage of 4200 doctors in the state against the approved posts. “Against the approved posts of 16,284 , the state has just 12,072 doctors. Now government is forced to hire doctors on contractual posts,” he said.
The Minister said due to the effort of the government, MMR which was 440 per lakh in 2005 has come down to 258 in 2014 while IMR which was 72 per lakh in 2005 was around 50 in 2014. On the occasion, couple of patients and health workers narrated their experiences.