Srinagar: Continuing its efforts towards reduction of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), the State of Jammu and Kashmir has once again registered a significant decline in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) from 26 per 1000 live births to 24 per 1000 live births (8% decline) as per latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin- September 2017 issued by Registrar General, India. The IMR is an important indicator reflecting the health care status of the community indicating number of deaths of children up to one year of age per 1000 live births. Amongst 21 bigger States, Jammu & Kashmir State is at the 6th position from the top after Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Maharashtra and Punjab. The Bulletin further reveals that the State is near to achieve gender parity in child survival with a gap of only one point.
This achievement has been possible due to strong political will and commitment of Shri Bali Bhagat, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Medical Education, Mohtarma Asiea Naqash, Hon’ble Minister of State Health and Medical Education, continuous monitoring and administrative support of Dr Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary Health &Medical Education Department and persistent efforts of Dr Mohan Singh, Mission Director NHM. The continuous support of DirectorHealth Services, Jammu/Kashmir, Principal, Government Medical College Jammu/ Srinagar, Director SKIMS, Director Family Welfare and Director ISM, J&K in implementation of various schemes of NHM has also helped in declining IMR to 24 (i.e.8%).
The National Health Mission (NHM) with the active support of entire Health and Medical Education Department has put strenuous efforts to provide Essential neonatal care and care of sick neonates and infants at Government Health institutions across the State through Facility Based Newborn Care at different levels as well as home based newborn care. In order to strengthen the maternal and child care in peripheral and tertiary health care institutions, Health and Medical Education Department has taken various initiatives under NHM like strengthening of NICUs at Govt. Medical Colleges, establishment of Special New-born Care Units (SNCUs) at District Hospitals, New Born Stabilization Units (NBSUs) at CHCs and New Born Care Corners (NBCCs) in all delivery points, strengthening of labour rooms and OTs in all delivery points, ensuring institutional and safe deliveries.The Newborn care units are being strengthened in terms of equipment, drugs and consumables, dedicated human resource and annual operational cost for smooth running of the units. The capacity building of human resource working in these units is being done in collaboration with National Collaborative Centre (NCC) for Facility Based Newborn Care, New Delhi. In addition all the infants admitted in newborn care are being provided treatment and nutritional support free of cost under JSSK scheme of NHM.
Shri Bali Bhagat, Hon’bleMinister for Health & Medical Education Departmentappreciated the efforts of Dr PawanKotwal,Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education and Dr.Mohan Singh, Mission Director, National Health Mission J&K.He also recognised the continuous support given by Principal GMC Jammu/Srinagar, Director Health Services Jammu/Kashmir, Director Family Welfare J&K, Director SKIMS Srinagar and Director ISM, J&K for their efforts to improve maternal and new born care in the State which resulted indecrease in IMR. The Hon’ble Minister also commended the job done by the service providers of Health & Medical Education Department including NHM staff to help the State in declining the IMR.
He further stressed for continuing the efforts in future also so as to further improve the maternal and child health indicators in the coming years.
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