Guwahati, June 12 (NNN): In order to save the lives of women and infants during deliveries and post delivery a vision document has been released today in Guwahati.
The vision document is to cut the infant and maternal mortality rates in Assam which was released by state chief minister Tarun Gogoi.
It can be noted that the infant mortality rate (IMR) of Assam is 58 compared to the national average of 47. The maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 390 is similarly much below the national average of 212.
Unveiling the vision document Tarun Gogoi said that the state of Assam’s rate of improvement in economic growth during 2001-2010 was sixth highest among all states. He added that Assam has a long way to go when it comes to social indicators. Tarun Gogoi said that though the government of Assam has brought down IMR from 76 to 58 in the last 10 years but it is still behind the national average of 47. “The MMR too has been brought down from 490 to 390 during this period, but we are nowhere near the national average of 212″ the chief minister added.
The chief minister said his government has accorded topmost priority to development of women and children. “The vision document thus encompasses areas such as safe drinking water, school enrolment, sanitation, reservation for women and prevention of crimes against women,” Gogoi said.
The chief minister also underscored the high prevalence of malnutrition and anaemia among girls and women. He stated that coupled with a high percentage of girls marrying below 18 years of age, these were major factors for high IMR and MMR in Assam.
Nearly 67.8% of adolescent girls (15-19 years) are anaemic in the state.
The vision document quoted DLHS-III (2007-08) as saying that about 40% women in Assam in the age-group of 20-24 years married before the legal age of 18 years. Though this is less than the national average of 42.9%, the increase in mean age of marriage for women had a cascading effect on maternal and child health in Assam.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mortality-rate-still-high/
