Infant Mortality Rate in J&K comes down by 2 points 3 points better than National Average”
Jammu 29 Dec; The infant mortality rate in the State has come down from 39 in 2012 to 37 in 2013 and is recorded better than the national average of 40 as revealed by latest data of Sample Registration System 2014 bulletin. Efforts are on to further reduce it by laying stress on facility and home based new-born care.
Towards the achievement of goal of IMR less than 24 by 2017, the State under National Health Mission had adopted various strategies and achieved Infant Mortality Rate, better than national average. The reduction in Infant Mortality Rate has become possible due to strengthening of Facility Based Newborn Care & Home Based Newborn care programmes. Under these Interventions State has established 15 Special Newborn Care Units in District Hospitals, 76 Newborn Stabilization Units in Community Health Centres and 274 baby care corners in different hospitals across the State.
Each of the Special New Born Care Units have been provided with One Pediatrician, four doctors, five staff nurses, one lab technician and one data entry operator for their smooth functioning . The capacity building of doctors & Staff nurses in the neonatal care is also being carried out, till date 112 doctors and staff nurses working in Special New Born Care Units have been trained by National Collaborative Centre for FBNC, New Delhi. In addition utilization of ASHA workers services, in ensuring institutional deliveries and home based newborn care has also played significant role in bringing down Infant Mortality Rate”.
It is pertinent to mention that State has been incentivised twice on the recommendations of 13th Finance Commission, the Ministry of Finance, GoI for reduction in Infant Mortality. First Installment was for an amount of Rs. 15.36 crores and second installment was for Rs 11.67 Crores. The amount awarded under 13th Finance Commission is being again ulilized for strengthening of the health institutions for providing better Child Care so that the Infant Mortality can be brought down further.