Neonatal Intensive Care Units to be set up in all districts of state
Bhopal: Institutional health services are being strengthened in the state. Under it, a target has been set to start Neonatal Intensive Care Units in all districts of the state by August 15, 2013. Madhya Pradesh will be the first state to achieve this distinction. So far, about 1 lakh 50 newborns have been treated through Neonatal Intensive Care Units in 44 districts of the state. Work is underway to set up Neonatal Intensive Care Units in 6 districts. Target has been set to complete this work by August 15. Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres have been set up at development block-level for care of malnourished children.
Need has been felt for intensive efforts for ensuring health services in weak areas in this respect with a view to reducing maternal, infant and child mortality rates in the state. As per composite health index, these top priority 17 districts include Raisen, Tikamgarh, Sidhi, Singrauli, Sagar, Damoh, Satna, Dindori, Shahdol, Anuppur, Umaria, Chhatarpur, Panna, Barwani, Mandla, Jhabua and Alirajpur.
Strategy is being chalked out to reduce maternal mortality to 100 per lakh by year 2017 in the state, mortality rate of live born infants to 25 per thousand and crude birth rate and live birth to 2.1 percent. Bal Uttarjeevita Abhiyan is also being launched. Through the Abhiyan, efforts are being made for universalisation of health services in remote rural areas. A result-oriented strategy is being chalked out in the state to reduce mother, infant and child mortality rate. Additional 500 maternity centres have been set up in Madhya Pradesh. Integrated services under Sanjeevani-108 and Janani Express schemes have been launched to ensure 24X7 health services. Under them, 1574 vehicles are being operated through call centre constantly. This is benefiting about 1 lakh patients every year. Under Janani Suraksha programme, free medicines, treatment, tests, diet and transport facilities are being provided to expectant mothers and children upto 1 year of age.
