Poor nutrition to encephalitis outbreak: 2019's biggest health stories

All year round, the level of air pollution in Delhi remains three times higher than the national standard

From a continued decline in infant and maternal mortality to inadequate funding for healthcare, from poor nutrition to an acute encephalitis syndrome outbreak, and from success in malaria prevention to below-par performance on leprosy control and tuberculosis elimination, here’s a look at 2019’s biggest health stories.

Decrease in maternal mortality, infant mortality

Fewer mothers died during childbirth as India’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR)--maternal deaths per 100,000 live births--fell 27% from 167 in 2011-13 to 122 in 2015-17, according to the Sample Registration System bulletin. 

However, India is still a long way from the Sustainable Development Goal for MMR: a target of 70 deaths