City’s infant mortality double the state’s 2015 target

Nagpur: Despite being known as the medical hub of Central India, the city registered an infant mortality rate (IMR) double the centre and state government’s standard norm in 2015. Total 1,772 infants (newborn to one year) died last year, of which 1,213 could not survive even for a week. Besides, 1,603 stillbirths were also recorded, which figure too is high. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) data shows that 56,827 births were registered in 2015.IMR is calculated as infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Thus, city’s IMR is 31.18 in 2015. The nation’s standard norm of IMR is said to be 14. The state government had set a target of bringing down IMR to 15 in 2015. However, the city’s IMR is double this target.
Of the 1,772 infant deaths, 1,213 died within seven days while 239 within 7 to 28 days and remaining 320 within 28 days to 1 year. Stillbirth refers to death of a baby after 24 weeks of pregnancy but before birth. The city recorded 1,603 such deaths in 2015.
The high number infant mortality and stillbirth figure hints at failure of government machinery to ensure postnatal and prenatal medical facilities, at least in urban areas. The government runs health related programmes through NMC. Unfortunately, NMC could not continue with some programmes launched to prevent stillbirths, maternal deaths and infant mortality.
A programme to take pregnant women, especially those from slums and outskirts, for regular check ups, delivery in hospitals and treatment of mother and child after birth was stopped two years ago after running for two years. The scheme to provide free delivery at private hospitals too came to a standstill two years ago. Today, free treatment and medicines are provided only at NMC and government hospitals. Even the dispensaries run by NMC in all parts of the city are not up to the mark.
Noted paediatrician Dr Anup Marar said it was not proper if the city’s IMR was more than standard norm and target of the government. “The city is blessed with good medical facilities. It even caters to the needs of neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. IMR in rural areas can be accepted with some reservations, but definitely not in an urban area like Nagpur. Infant deaths are caused due to lack of proper medical facility during and after delivery. Government machinery and private medical institutions should come together and work to reduce IMR and stillbirths,” he said.
Vice-president of Nagpur Obstetric Gynaecological Society Dr Vaidehi Marathe said high stillbirths might be from slums and outskirts areas. “Regular check ups, treatment during pregnancy and delivery at hospitals are the only solutions to control stillbirths. Awareness and also medical facility should be provided in areas from where more stillbirths are recorded every year. Such high number of stillbirths within city limit is not at all acceptable, since medical facilities are available for pregnant women easily,” she said.
An official from NMC said effective implementation of National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) can control IMR, stillbirths and maternal deaths. “We plan to set up 50 public health centres (PHCs) that will act as outdoor patient departments (OPD) and 10 community health centres (CHCs) as indoor hospitals soon,” the official said.
Snuffed Lives
Year --- Infant deaths ---- Stillbirths
2013 ----- 1,844 ---- 1,900
2014 ---- 1,679 ---- 1,735
2015 ---- 1,772 --- 1,603