'State down in maternal care'

AHMEDABAD: It seems that the maternal and child health (MCH) care in Gujarat is slipping under the leadership of first woman chief minister of the state, Anandiben Patel, who took charge of the state in May 2014.
According to the report card prepared by the Union health ministry, Gujarat has seen a decline in overall index of MCH care delivery system compared to last year.This index for the period April to September, 2014-15, was prepared using various indicators during the four life stages namely pre-pregnancy or the reproductive age, pregnancy care, child birth and post natal care for mother and new born.
The states that have done better than Gujarat include, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Maharashtra, Assam and Madhya Pradesh. In the corresponding period last year (2013-14) Gujarat fared better. States like Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Mizoram have this year marched ahead of the state with better overall index. The very low performing districts in Gujarat include Dahod, Bhavnagar, Aravalli, Botad, Chhotaudepur, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Mahisagar and Morbi
The figures only reaffirm poor state of MCH in Gujarat which was highlighted in a PIL. The PIL had sought direction from the court for the state government to improve health infrastructure and bring down maternal mortality rate below 100 which is presently at 122.
Renu Khanna, member of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, said, "One of the primary reasons for poor MCH is that the remote areas are highly under serviced. Though the state government claims of facilities in rural areas, it is mostly on paper," she said. "Also, there is a lack of monitoring of various health services announced by the state government. Further, post-natal care is very weak in the state as the staff at village levels are yet to be trained," she added.
Overall Index
States/Uts2014-15 2013-14
(Apr-Sep)(Apr-Sep)
1Tamil Nadu0.62420.6355
2Kerala0.55770.6174
3Karnataka0.50560.5417
4Punjab0.50140.5458
5Telangana0.4910.5296
6Uttarakhand0.46390.5093
7Maharashtra0.46150.4896
8Assam0.45270.4654
9Madhya Pradesh0.44840.4799
10Gujarat0.43660.4825
(Source: Statistics wing, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India)
Low Performing Districts: Vadodara, Patan, Kachchh, Kheda, Banaskantha, Narmada, Panchmahals, Surat, Junagadh
Good Performing districts: Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Tapi, The Dangs, Navsari, Rajkot, Jamnagar