Infant mortality rate to be brought down to 32/1000 in Rajasthan

Jaipur, July 25 (UNI) Norway India Partnership Initiative(NIPI) today launched its ambitious programme of bringing down the infant mortality rate in Rajasthan from the present 67 per 1000 ratio to 32 per 1000 by 2012.

The programme, being undertaken by NIPI in five states-Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa, was launched at a ceremony attended by Mr Tore Godal, special Advisor to Prime Minister of Norway, Mr Jon Westborg, Ambassador of Norway in India, Dr Digambar Singh, Rajasthan Health Minister and representatives of WHO, UNICEF and state government of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa.

Under the programme, NIPI would provide catalytic strategic support to make vital and sustainable differences in rapid scaling of quality and equitably delivered child health services in India under the National Rural Health Mission.

The initiative had preliminarily had proposed setting up of two model child health districts to strengthen child health services infrastructure to the ideal level. Besides this, District Child Health Resource Network in at least 50 per cent of the districts of the state and other priority activities would also be undertaken under the programme.

Expressing satisfaction over the launch of this ambitious programme from Rajasthan, Health Minister Dr Digambar Singh said his government, during the past two to three years, had taken a number of steps for strengthening the facilities for women and child health care and the measures taken by the government had yielded very encouraging results.

For instance, after introduction of Janani Surakha Yojna(JSY), the number of institutional deliveries in the state had increased from 28 per cent to 40 per cent during the past one year. In another year or so, this figure is expected to go up to 60 per cent.

Mr Singh said the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness, which was started from Jhalawar district in the state in 2003, had now been extended to nine districts and would be further extended to as many more districts by the end of the current year.

Malnutrition Treatment Corners(MTCs), which are presently functional in seven district hospitals and two CHCs, would be established in all district hospitals and six government medical college hospitals by the end of the year.

For sick newborns and low birth weight(LBW) babies, 12 bedded nurseries are being established at all district headquarters, the minister said.

UNI