Baripada: Infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) continue to rise alarmingly in tribal-dominated and hilly pockets of Mayurbhanj district due to host of factors such as lack of awareness and inaccessible healthcare.
Concerned over this, the health department has drawn up various plans and strategies to curb IMR and MMR by 2020 in the district. The department has found that IMR and MMR have been on the rise in nine blocks.
A meeting was held recently at the district headquarters hospital under the chairmanship of CDMO Dr Laxmikant Kabi. The meeting revealed that 46,000 children were born in the district in 2010-11 and 1,206 of them died. Similarly, 50,030 births and 1,587 infant deaths were reported in 2011-12 while 80 women had died either before or after childbirth.
The district reported casualties of 1,318 infants and 53 women in 2012-13 while 44, 515 children were born that year. In 2014-15, the number of child causalities was 1,280 out of total 45,675 births while 45 maternal deaths were reported. The number of infant and maternal casualties in 2015-16 was 1,147 and 55 respectively while 43, 932 births were reported.
In 2016-17, the district recorded 42,456 births while 952 infant deaths and 53 maternal deaths were reported. Excess bleeding was the main reason behind maternal deaths, it was learnt. The department had conducted a survey on MMR in 2013. The survey put the MMR at 222 in every one lakh while the IMR was put at 51 in every 1,000.
The department has set a target to bring down MMR to 170 per lakh and IMR to 33 per 1,000. The department says it has initiated efforts to curb the deaths of children aged within 28 days to 23 per 1,000 and those aged within five years to 52 per 1,000.
The department in its survey detected that IMR and MMR have been on the rise in Bijatala, Bangiriposi, Shuliapada, Jashipur, Morada, Karanjia, Thakurmunda, Katipada and Raruan blocks. The CDMO said plans will be drawn up to bring down IMR and MMR in these blocks. PNN
