Government of India has identified 11 districts of the State comprising Dumka, Godda, Gumla, latchar, lohardaga, Pakur, Palamau, Shaibganj, Saraikela, Simdega and West Singhbhum as high priority districts (HPDs) based on a composite set of indicators for focusing interventions across the spectrum of maternal and child health.
For this the Union Government has adopted the Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Health + Adolescence (RMNCH+A) approach to implement across these districts. The Jharkhand department of health, medical education and family welfare, in partnership with USAID, Unicef, NIPI, Earth Institute and others, announced the upcoming ‘State Consultation for Intensification and Harmonization of efforts in High Priority Districts for improved Maternal and child Health Outcomes’ at a function on Friday.
From the Centre, Rakesh Kumar, Joint Secretary for Reproductive Child Health (RCH), said, “The identification of these HPDs is based on composite index. This index has taken parameters from maternal health, child health and family planning. The objective behind this is to accelerate the progress towards attaining millennium development goals and health based targets which are outlined in the 12th Five Year Plan.” Mission Director for Jharkhand Reproductive Child Health Manish Ranjan said, “In some health indicators like Infant Mortality Rate (38/1000 live births) and Neonatal Mortality Rate (24/1000 live birth) of the state average is less than the national average (India IMR-44/1000 live birth, NMR- 31/1000 live birth).but there are some other indicators like Maternal Mortality Rate and Total Fertility Rate where the state average is higher than national average.”
He further added, “Across various health parameter there are wide inter district variation and Jharkhand is in 11th position among 184 HPDs.” “USAID is a designated state lead partner of coordinating RMNCH+A programme. All the development partners working in the health sectors are being brought on a common platform to support Government of Jharkhand for implementing this strategy in the state, said Nancy Godferey, Director of health office at USAID.