Lok Sabha Question No. 3266 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-04
Subject: Infant Mortality Rate
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3266 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH AUGUST , 2017

## INFANT MORTALITY RAT E

## 3266. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  NITI  Aayog,  in  its  Working  Report  on  the  Healthcare  System  in  India, identified a slow progress in meeting targets of health outcomes of Infant Mortality Rate Tuberculosis and Meas les Mortality Rate, and vaccination coverage, if so, the details thereo

(b) the measures taken by the Government to identify the reasons for the slow progress;

- (c) the steps being taken to expeditiously combat infant mortality, measles mortality and increase vaccine  coverage  among  children  so  as  to  achieve  the  targets  under  the  recently  ad Sustainable Development Goals for 2030; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a) & (b):      Yes . However, as per latest data, IMR has reduced by 58% in India during th period of 1990 - 2015 which is more than to Global decline of 49% during the same period. Th Full Immunization coverage also improved from 43.5% in 2005 to 62.0% in 2015 and Mortalit due to Tuberculosis has reduced from 76 per 1,00,000 in 1990 to 32 per 1,00,000 in 2015.
- (c) & (d):      The steps being taken by the government to further combat infant morta increase vaccine coverage under the National Health Mission are as under:
- (1) Promotion  of  Institutional  deliveries  through  cash  incentive  under  Janani Suraksha Yojana  (JSY)  and  Janani ShishuSurakshaKaryakaram  (JSSK)  which  entitles  all  pregnant women  delivering  in  public  health  institutions  to  absolutely  free  ante - natal  check - ups, delivery including Caesarean section, post - natal care and treatment of sick infants till one yea of age.
- (2)Strengthening of delivery points for providing comprehensive and quality Reproduct Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNC H+A) Services, ensuring essential newborn care at all delivery points, establishment of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU)

Contd…….

Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) units for care of sick and small babies. Home Based N ewborn Care (HBNC) is being provided by ASHAs to improve child rearing practice s. India Newborn Action Plan (I N A P) was launched in 2014 to make concerted efforts towards attainment of the goals of 'Single Digit Neonatal Mortality Rate' and 'Single Digit Stillbirth Rate', by 2030.

(3)Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for first six months and appropriate and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are promoted in convergence with Ministry o Women and Child Development. Village Health and Nut rition Days (VHNDs) are observed for provision of maternal and child health services and creating awareness on materna child care including health and nutrition education. Ministry of Health and Family W launched  MAA Mothers'  Absolute  Affection programme  in  August  2016  for  improving breastfeeding practices (Initial Breastfeeding within one hour, Exclusive Breastfeedin six  months  and  complementary  Breastfeeding  up  to  two  years)  through  mass  media  and capacity building of health care provid rs in health facilities as well as in communities.

(4)Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is being supported to provide vaccination t children against many life threatening diseases such as Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pe Polio, Tetanus, Hepati tis B and Measles. Pentavalent vaccine has been introduced all acro the country and 'Mission Indradhanush' has been launched to fully immunize children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated; those that have not been covered dur rounds  of  routine  immunization  for  various  reasons. Measles  Rubella  Campaign  is  being undertaken in select States for children from 9 months to 15 years of age with the aim of eliminating Measles by 2020.

(5)Name based tracking of mothers and children till two years of age (Mother and Child Tracking System) is done to ensure complete antenatal, intranatal, postnatal care and c immunization as per schedule.

(6)Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) for health screening, early detection of bi defects , diseases, deficiencies, development delays including disability and early inter services has been Operationalized to provide comprehensive care to all the children in group of 0 - 18 years in the community.

(7)Some other important interven tions are Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation for th prevention of anaemia among the vulnerable age groups, home visits by ASHAs to promot exclusive breast feeding and promote use of ORS and Zinc for management of diarrhoea children.

(8) Capacity building of health care providers: Various trainings are being conducted National Health Mission (NHM) to build and upgrade the skills of health care provide basic and comprehensive obstetric care of mother during pregnancy, delivery an d essential newborn care.

(9 ) Low performing districts have been identified as High Priority Districts (HPDs) w entitles  them  to  receive  high  per  capita  funding,  relaxed  norms,  enhanced  monitorin focused  supportive  supervisions  and  encouragement  t o  adopt  innovative  approaches  to address their peculiar health challenges.

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