Infant mortality on the decline

Sample Registration System about measuring the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) places Jammu and Kashmir at an improved and satisfactory place by having been able to bringing the IMR down from 20 a year back to 17. This is far better than the national average of 28 per cent indicating concerted efforts having been made by the UT Health and Medical Education Department in tandem with the National Health Mission to reduce the IMR which is an indicator of how much conducive was the existing healthcare system to contain such deaths of infants per 1000 per year, the indicators and factors reckoned for arriving at the said rate.
While it is a matter of great relief, constant efforts need to be taken to further improve the rate which, therefore, encompasses taking care of the health of the mother and the new born preceding the birth and following the birth of the infant, especially in respect of neonatal care at hospitals. The achievement could be possible only after framing pointed plans and strategies in line with India New Born Action Plan. Among numerous central sponsored healthcare schemes which when implemented scrupulously coupled with Home Based New Born Care, universal immunisation and general awakening, more encouraging results on one of the key healthcare fronts under reference are bound to occur.