State concerned about child, mother health

The Statesman, 16th October, 2008

State health and family welfare secretary Ms Anu Garg chaired a meeting to discuss ways to reduce infant mortality and maternal mortality rate in the state recently. The members discussed different reasons responsible for infant mortality. Since malnutrition is one of the causes, the importance of taking immediate steps to eradicate malnutrition was emphasised. During the meeting it was discussed that at present about 44 per cent of the children in the state suffer from malnutrition and methods were suggested to bring it down to 38 per cent by the year 2012. The health and family welfare department will work in collaboration with the women and child development ministry to achieve this target.Another novel initiative will also be undertaken to draw attention to the growing malnutrition amongst children. Through this initiative the Tuesdays and Fridays every month will be celebrated as health and nutrition day at different anganwadis where anganwadi workers, Asha workers, and even the local residents can participate. Discussions will be held where people will be educated about health practices in general and about maternal and child health care in particular.In addition this year three new child malnutrition eradication centres will be established in Koraput, Kalahandi and Mayurbhanj. The first such centre will be inaugurated at Mayurbhanj on 14 November. It was also decided in the meeting that the rural health day will be observed in Koraput as per the schedule decided earlier. Funds for all the programmes will be provided by Unicef along with monetary aid from the state government and the national rural health mission (NRHM).Mission director Mr SK Lohani, director of the family welfare Mr Dushasan Muduli, and Unicef representatives were present at the meeting.