Child, neonatal mortality rates see decline in Punjab

Chandigarh: Child and neonatal mortality rates in Punjab have shown notable improvement in recent years due to the implementation of healthcare initiatives by the state government, according to an official of the health department.

Dr Adarshpal Kaur, director of health services, said that according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), conducted in 2019- 2021, the neonatal mortality rate (NNMR) and children under the age of three, breastfed within an hour of birth, are better than the national average. The infant mortality rate in Punjab, as per a 2020 survey, was 18 deaths per 1,000 live births, again lower than the national average of 28 deaths per 1,000 live births. The under-five mortality rate in Punjab is 32, compared to a national average of 42, and the neonatal mortality rate (NNMR) as per NFHS -5 stands at 22 as against the national average of 42.

Punjab director (family welfare) Dr R P Kaur said national health initiatives like Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight (IDCF) and Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumoia Successfully (SAANS) programme have also been implemented religiously in the state.

Dr Trikha stated that child health services are delivered to the public by widespread network of special newborn care units (SNCU), newborn stabilisation units (NBSU) and newborn care corners (NBCC) across the state. At present, 24 SNCU, 79 NBSU and 208 NBCC corners are functional in the state, shared mission director national health mission Punjab cum secretary health Dr Abhinav Trikha during a regional training of trainers conducted by the union ministry of health.