India may attain its targeted maternal mortality ratio soon

The government today said that India is "likely" to reach its targeted maternal mortality ratio under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) if the current compound rate of annual decline continues.
"The MDG 5 target is to reduce maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. This translates to reducing the MMR from 560 in 1990 to 140 in 2015. India is likely to reach an MMR of 140 if the current compound rate of annual decline continues," Health Minister J P Nadda informed the Lok Sabha.
He said that the MDG 4 target is for reduction of child mortality by two-third between 1990 and 2015. In terms of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), this translates into IMR of 29/1000 live births to be achieved by 2015.

"As per the latest, Sample Registration System (SRS) report published by the Registrar General of India (RGI) in 2013, the IMR in India is 40/1000 live births.
"As per SRS 2013, 15 states/UTs have already achieved MDG 4 (IMR = 29) Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Manipur, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Punjab," Nadda said.
He said that no targets have been set under MDG for Total Fertility Rate (TFR).

"The progress however for TFR as per SRS in 2011 and 2012 was 2.4 and has declined to 2.3 in 2013. 24 States and UTs having already achieved the replacement level of fertility of 2.1," Nadda said.

Replying to another question, he said that as per the Coverage Evaluation Survey (CES) 2009 which is the latest survey data available on urban and rural vaccination coverage, about 8.5 per cent children in rural areas and 5.2 per cent children in urban areas did not receive any vaccine during initial year of their lives.
He said that 68.23 per cent of children have been covered under Universal Immunization Programme in 2015-16. Also, in 2014, 104 deaths of occurred due to Diphtheria, 33 deaths have been reported due to measles in children.