Special programme in Odisha to contain IMR, MMR

To contain infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate, Odisha government today decided to launch a special programme in 68 blocks across 14 districts in the state.
Officials said the 68 highly vulnerable blocks were identified in Boudh, Deogarh, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Keonjhar, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Sonepur and Sundergarh districts.
The decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.
"It has also been decided to give special attention to pregnant women in the 68 blocks and ensure their safe delivery," Health and Family Welfare minister Atanu S Nayak said.

Vacant posts of doctors and auxiliary nurse midwives would be filled within specific time frame for the purpose, he said.
Besides three medical colleges in Cuttack, Burla and Berhampur, the meeting resolved to upgrade infrastructure facilities at Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and Ispat General Hospital (IGH) in Rourkela.

The meeting also resolved to set up a special cell in the health and family welfare department to monitor MMR and IMR issues.
"It is also decided to upgrade labour rooms from community health centres to medical colleges," the minister said.
According to health department officials, the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Odisha remained at 222 per one lakh pregnant women in Odisha, while the rate of IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) stood at 51 per 1,000 child birth. 37 of the 1,000 new borns die.

The state government has set a target to reduce the MMR to 117, IMR to 30 and new born death rate to 23 by 2020, they said.
The state government also asked the departments of ST/SC Development, Women and Child Development and Health and Family Welfare to work in tandem in order to bring down rates of MMR and IMR, they added.