‘Eliminate delays in child care to reduce infant mortality’

LUCKNOW: Eliminating unnecessary delays in child care can reduce the number of infant deaths in the state, said experts.

Addressing the UP Health Summit here on Wednesday, prof JV Singh, head of community medicine department at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) listed the three types of delays that were most often seen in the treatment of children. These include delays in taking a decision in case of a medical emergency, in transporting the child patient and finally in providing medical services.

“Avoiding these delays are key in preventing infant deaths, especially in the first 28-days of life. After birth, the child remains in the hospital for a day or two and then is shifted home. It is important that the child is attended to carefully at home. If we can eliminate such delays, infant deaths will reduce drastically,” said prof Singh.

UP recorded an Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 50 per 1,000 live births in the Sample Registration System Report-2013.

Elaborating upon the key factors responsible for such delays, prof Singh said an ASHA worker was required to pay six visits in six weeks to the house where a child had been born. However, when these visits do not happen, the child health is ignored.

This is because the mother does not know about various diseases that an infant can contract and ASHA workers do not visit to make them aware, leading to a major communication gap that could have catastrophic results. Chief of field office of Unicef Niloufer Pourzand said infant deaths were not acceptable and were preventable in most cases.

Chairperson of the UP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (UPSCPCR) Juhie Singh said that the first week of December will be conducted as the ‘Week for Mother and Child’ in the state and efforts will be made at the village level to identify children who have missed immunization, have low body weight or lack any kind of medical care.

Chairperson of the State Women Commission Zarina Usmani, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Aradhna Mishra and UP SCPCR member Nahid Lari Khan also addressed the gathering, speaking about the efforts being made by the state government in preventing infant deaths and the role of women in the society. They said that an educated and healthy woman could help build a developed society.

Minister of state for health SP Yadav in his address also spoke about the development of services at the district hospitals and on improving the living environment so that fewer people fell ill.