Child survival cell opens in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, May 15 (UNI) In a bid to accelerate implementation of various Child and Maternal Survival programmes in Orissa, a State Maternal and Child Survival Cell was inaugurated in the Directorate of Family Welfare department here today.

The purpose of the establishment and operationalisation of the cell would strengthen the state level monitoring and supervision of the program implementation and undertake regular program review-based on achieved results and strategic decisions for strengthening the program implementation.

The cell inaugurated by Minister Health and Family Welfare Sanatan Bisi would create an enabling environment and fast track mechanisms for decentralised decision to achieve results.

Official sources said that at least 16 District Maternal and Child Survival Cells to support the Director, Family Welfare in reduction of maternal and child mortality would be opened soon.

As against the National average of maternal death 401 per one lakh and child mortality rate of 58 per thousand, Orissa stood at 358 and 73 respectively.

The Orissa Government is determined to bring it down to 250 and 50 by 2010.

The government has entered into an agreement with United Nations Office for Projects Services(UNOPS) part of NIPI, which has come forward for support in a big way.

UNI DP LL RL KN2109