Lok Sabha Question No. 2525 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-11
Subject: Sustainable Development Goals
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. 2525

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH MARCH, 2016 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPM ENT GOALS

## 2525. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the NITI Aayog in its report on the Healthcare System in India, has identified the slow progress of the health schemes/ programmes and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the Government has taken any measures to identify the reasons for the slow progress of the said schemes/ programmes; and
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the Government  to expeditiously combat infant mor ality, measles mortality and increase vaccine coverage among children so as to achieve the targets under the Sustainable Development Goals?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a): Yes.  The  working  paper  published  by  NITI  Aayog  titled  ,' Health  System  in  India: Bridging the Gap between Current Performance and Potential' indicates that the Infant mortality rate has reduced by 50% in India during 1990 -2012, while Nepal, Bangladesh and C ambodia have shown a decline ranging from 60 - 67% during the corresponding period.
- (b): The probable reasons are lack of manpower in the inaccessible areas, inadequate ac to social determinants and limited private sector engagement.
- (c): The steps bei ng taken by the government to combat infant mortality and increase vacci coverage under the national Health mission are as under:
- I. Promotion  of  Institutional  deliveries  through  cash  incentive  under  Janani  Sura Yojana  (JSY)  and  Janani  Shishu  Suraksha  K aryakaram  (JSSK)  which  entitles  all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no e ante - natal check -ups, delivery including Caesarean section, post - natal care and treatment of sick infants till one year of age.
- II. Strengthening of delivery points for providing comprehensive and quality Reproduct maternal,  newborn,  Child  and  Adolescent  Health  (RMNCH+A)  Services,    ensuring essential  newborn  care  at  all  delivery  points,  establishment  of  Special  Newborn Units ( SNCU), Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) units for care of sick and small babies.
- III. Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for first six months and appropriate and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are promot ed in convergence with Ministry of  Women  and  Child  Development.  Village  Health  and  Nutrition  Days  (VHNDs)  are observed for provision of maternal and child health services and creating awarene maternal and child care including health and nutrition educ ation.
- IV. Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is being supported to provide vaccination t children  against  many  life  threatening  diseases  such  as  Tuberculosis,  Diphth Pertussis,  Polio,  Tetanus,  Hepatitis  B  and  Measles.  Pentavalent vaccine  has  been introduced all across the country and 'Mission Indradhanush' has been launched to fully immunize more than 89 lakh children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccina those that have not been covered during the rounds of routine immunization for various reasons.
- V. Name based tracking of mothers and children till two years of age (Mother and Ch Tracking  System)  is  done  to  ensure  complete  antenatal,  intranatal,  postnatal  car complete immunization as per schedule.
- VI. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) for health screening, early detection of birt defects,  diseases,  deficiencies,  development  delays  including  disability  and intervention services has been operationalized to provide comprehensive care to a children in the age group of 0 - 18 years in the community.
- VII. Some other important interventions are Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation fo prevention of anaemia among the vulnerable age groups, annual deworming on Nationa Deworming Day (NDD), home visit a ion by ASHAs to promote exclusive breast feeding and early detection and referral of sick newborns and promote use of ORS and Zinc management of diarrhoea in children.
- VIII. To sharpen the focus on the low performing districts, 184 High Priority Districts (HPDs) have  been  prioritized  for  Reproductive  Maternal  Newborn  Child  Health+  Adolescent (RMNCH+A) interventions for achieving improved maternal and child health outcomes.