Claiming of high medical services facility, Gujarat has still high Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).
Although State health minister Jaynarayan Vyas informed that the Gujarat govt. has been working for put control over Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) that in 2009 fell from 48 per 1,000 live births to 44 per 1,000 live births in 2010.
This record had been taken from Registrar General of India’s Sample Registration Survey Report 2010.
Jaynarayan Vyas told Media, “The IMR in the state has fallen by 4 in one year, which is the highest decline in two decades. This has been possible due to the collective efforts of the state government and citizens and the Chiranjeevi scheme, higher number of institutionalized deliveries, better awareness, 108 emergency service, steps taken to curb malnutrition among pregnant women, access to better pre and post-natal care, higher vaccination, among others as some of the reasons for decline in infant mortality rate.”
But Having highest decline of IMR by 4 in one year, still there are other states that had achieved a highest reduction of five in IMR during the year.
The name of states is MP and Himachal Pradesh.
Beside this, the report shows that Gujarat has lower IMR as compared to several major states. The IMR in Tamil Nadu was 24 in 2010, 28 in neighboring Maharashtra and 30 in Delhi. The IMR in West Bengal was 31, followed by 34 in Punjab, while it was 38 in Karnataka and Uttarakhand. Even Jharkhand had a lower mortality rate of 42, while Jammu & Kashmir’s IMR was recorded at 43.
When asking about the report of lesser IMR in comparison to other state, Vyas said, “The fact that a large chunk of Gujarat’s population comprised tribals is contributing to the state’s higher infant mortality rate. IMR is higher in coastal areas, but the government is working to further reduce the IMR.”
However from the whole statistical data record, Madhya Pradesh has the highest IMR of 62 in 2010and UP and Orissa with 61. Haryana also had a high infant mortality rate at 48. But Goa and Kerala had the stand on first two the lowest IMR position with 10 deaths per 1,000 live births, while Kerala of 13. IMR in other North-Eastern states was also significantly lower than that of Gujarat.
