LUCKNOW: These were the words of a Unicef representative during a discussion to describe the mother and child health scenario in UP. With a maternal mortality rate of 359 against the national average of 212 and infant mortality rate of 63 (national: 50) one cant help agreeing with the statement. The National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) had promised to change all that at grass-roots level. Six years on, sadly, this is not the case. Experts feel that achieving higher levels of health standards was not impossible if there was administrative will. The fourth common review mission of NRHM undertaken by ministry of health and family welfare (MOHFW) reveals as to where is UP lacking:
Risky place for mothers: NRHM state-wise progress report reveals that 359 women in UP die during child-birth. Safe abortion services are not widely available and modern methods (like MVA) for medical termination of pregnancy were not being used. Roping in private players to save pregnant women through a scheme promising free delivery service to BPL women on a voucher basis fizzled even before its start. The mandatory eight-hour long post-natal stay in hospitals was found to be impossible. No maternal death review processes were seen to be happening in the state. Plans were drawn up for mother and child, however ownership (for its implementation) was lacking, said the report. Read more
Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com
