Infant Mortality Rate- A problem that hounds nation

According to a study by an international non-government organisation, Over 400,000 newborns in India die within the first 24 hours of their birth every year - The highest anywhere in the world.

According to the NGO, despite a decade of rapid economic growth, India’s record on child mortality at 72 per 1,000 live births is worse than that of neighbouring Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world.

Two million children under five years of age die—one every 15 seconds—each year in India, also the highest anywhere in the world, it said. Of these more than half die in the first month of their birth. 

The most disturbing element about this development indicator is that low-cost interventions could reduce neonatal mortality by up to 70 per cent by providing basic medical care, including well-trained frontline health workers and appropriate facilities for childbirth.

But all is not lost. In fact, many to be mothers are becoming pro-active to get regular health checkups done and ensure the good health of the baby

Take the example of Prema Sagar, taking the initiative to go the mobile clinic to ensure her baby’s growth is normal.

“I want my child to be born healthy and to have a normal delivery. It’s my first pregnancy, and I want my child to be born in a hospital,” she said.

Small steps can ensure that we can collectively tackle the problem of infant mortality in the country:

1. 1    Keep the environment clean
2.      Keep ambulance and emergency numbers handy. 
3. 3 You can use the Ambulance number 1298 in casyou need any assistance in Mumbai, Kerala, Bihar, Odisha and Punjab
4. 4    Ensure that you bring in the baby in a hospital
5. 5   Provide good nutrition to the to-be-mother and get regular checkups and vaccinations done which will ensure the good health of to-be- mother and the baby
6.        Say NO to female Foeticide!

About the Author: Dr Paresh Navalkar, Head Pre Hospital Care, Ziqitza Health Care Limited