Haryana records maximum decline in Infant Mortality Rate: Vij

Haryana is one of the four states in India which have recorded maximum decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), state Health Minister said today.
The other states are Assam, Tripura and Dadar and Nagar Haveli (Union Territory), Health Minister Anil Vij said in a statement.
In Haryana, the IMR for children below one year of age has shown a decline of five points from 41 per 1000 live births in Sample Registration System (SRS) 2013 to 36 per 1000 live births in SRS 2014 (July 2016 Bulletin).
This is the result of strengthened health network and concerted efforts made by state Health Department, he said.

Vij said the result of samples collected by SRS of the Central Government was announced during this month.
According to data of September 2014, the IMR was 41 in Haryana. As per SRS 2014, Haryana's IMR was below the national average of 36. This reduction in death of children under one year of age is due to the concerted efforts of the government.

Vij said that after the formation of BJP government in Haryana in October 2014, there has been considerable improvement in the infrastructure and sanitation of hospitals, efforts have been accelerated to remove shortage of doctors, medicines and equipment.

Special Newborn Care Units have been made functional in all the district hospitals to provide specialised care for sick newborns.
Supplementation of iron folic acid was being given to prevent anemia, albendazole for deworming and vitamin A to all under five years of age children.
Vij said that in 2014-16, Haryana also introduced three new vaccines - Pentavalent vaccine to include Hemophilus influenza vaccine in the schedule; Inactivated Polio Vaccine in line with global policy of ensuring sustained eradication of polio and Rotavirus vaccine for preventing severe diarhoea and subsequent deaths due to rotavirus infection among children.
Under the Mission Indradhanush, a strategic endeavor was made to strengthen immunisation coverage.

The state immunised a total of 56 lakh children through 86,000 immunisation sessions. Haryana is one of the first states in the country to start lab-based Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance.
He said in 2015, the state had also drafted the Haryana Newborn Action Plan. As per the plan, Haryana is committed to achieve the national and global goal of single digit neonatal mortality rate by 2025.