High rate of infant mortality at AP

Tirupati, Sep 11 (UNI) The infant mortality rate in Andhra Pradesh is 59 per cent, compared to 62 per cent at the national level, Union Minister of State for Health Panabaka Lakshmi said here today.

Addressing mediapersons after the inauguration of a private diagnostics centre in the temple town, she said that to provide more medical facilities in rural areas, the Centre had launched the National Rural Health Mission.

All health schemes would come under this mission and the central government had sanctioned Rs 8,207 crores for this year, of which Rs 237 crores was alloted to Andhra Pradesh, she added.

She said pre-natal cases and neo-natal mortality were increasing in the state. To reduce this, the government would provide three coupons at Rs 100 to SC, ST and BPL woman for treatment in a private hospital. If she was an in-patient, the government would bare a minimum Rs 750 and more, depending upon her diseas.

She expressed concern over the practice of female foeticide through the misuse of advancement in technology in some parts of the country.

She urged doctors to provide low cost treatment to poor people living in rural areas.

Earlier, Mrs Lakshmi along with her family, offered a worship of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala.

UNI KNR GKT PB BD1819