Infant mortality rates drop in Haryana: minister

The multi-pronged strategy adopted by the Haryana government to reduce the Infant and Child Mortality Rates has yielded positive results, Health Minister Anil Vij said today.
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has declined to 36 per 1,000 live births from 41 per 1,000 live births, he said. Child Mortality Rate (CMR) dropped by five points from 45 to 40 per thousand live births as per July, 2016 statistics, Vij said.
He said this while launching the flagship 'Mothers Absolute Affection' (MAA) programme for promotion of breastfeeding at a function held at Panchkula here.
He said that each district will also organise 'district launch' to educate the masses towards improving the infant and child feeding indicators which are crucial for prevention of malnutrition.

The Health Minister said breastfeeding was the most natural and cost-effective intervention and should be promoted at all levels.
"It is our job and our privilege to promote the world's most effective investment for human development," he said.

Highlighting the life-cycle approach, Vij said that "Continum of care" approach had been adopted under National Health Mission with the articulation of 'Strategic approach to Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent health (RMNCH+A)', bringing focus on all the life stages.
He said the state was focusing on improvement of quality and access of newborn care, child health and immunisation services to reduce IMR and CMR, as per the target of 'Millennium Development Goals'.

"These are also some of the key areas of priority of United Nations Strategic Development Goals. Under this, various interventions have been carried out by the National Health Mission and State Health Department," he added.
The Health minister also flagged off 16 new vaccine vans for district vaccine stores to improve vaccine delivery and cold chain system.