54 pc Malaria death of India is reported from NE

Agartala, July 5: The consultative Committee of Parliament headed by the Union Health Minister Ambumoni Ramadoss has urged Northeastern states to ensure effective implementation of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to improve both health infrastructure as well as services.

According to official report, the committee has expressed concern over the disease profile of the region while opined cancer, Tuberculosis and Malaria as major health problems in the region besides HIV/AIDS.

Meanwhile, Health Ministry Report 2006 stated that over 54 per cent of malaria deaths in the country were reported from NE states despite implementation of various programme to combat the diseases as well as to generate public awareness.

Quoting the annual report health officials here today said, "The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rates (IMR) were also higher than the national average".

Considering the health scenario, the committee has approved the proposal of setting up North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) at Shillong, expected to start functioning in September next.

Union Health Ministry had convened a meeting of all Health Ministers of the region and discussed the health problem of the respective states and asked them to implement NRHM meticulously to ensure better health care facilities to poor masses.

UNI