Child mortality rate in Udupi on par with international standards

Bangalore, Jan 10 (UNI) Udupi district of Karnataka has achieved the distinction of reducing infant mortality rate to eight per 1,000, which is equivalent to that of any developed nation.

Karnataka Medical Education Minister V S Acharya, speaking at the first state council meeting of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) here yesterday, said the figures of the district, with over 12 lakh population, were against the national average of 50 per 1,000.

''The achievement of Udupi district in respect of child mortality rate is also equivalent to international standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).'' Calling for other districts in the country to emulate the feat of the tiny district, he said the NRHM programme targeted at reducing the mother mortality rate from 228 per 1,00,000 to 100 and the child death rate from 50 per 1,000 to 30. ''There is a need to create awareness about the salient features of the programme among the rural masses to achieve its objectives,'' he added.

UNI