30 deaths per 1000 newborns in Mizoram: Mizo minister
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Aizawl, January 30 2014: At current rate, there are 30 deaths per 1000 newborns in Mizoram; and during 2012-13, as per record of the state Health department, there had been 600 deaths of newborns and 12 maternal deaths in Mizoram, according to state health minister Lal Thanzara.

The minister was saying this during a Consultative Meeting on Reproductive Maternal Newborn and Child-health + Adolescent (RMNCH+A).

The event was organised jointly by Mizoram Health & Family Welfare Department and UNICEF.

Speaking on the occasion, the State Minister of Health stressed on the need to take vigorous steps to bring down the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of the State.

During 12th Five Year Plan, it is targeted to decrease the IMR to 25 per 1000 by 2017 and also MMR to 100 per 1,00,00, he said.

Meanwhile, steps are being taken in implementation of the National Rural Health Mission for the better health of the people, the State Health Minister said.

It is necessary to take steps together with other departments in order to materialize RMNCH+A project, not leaving the task only to the doctors and staff under Health department, the Minister said.

He expressed his wish that the Consultation meeting may come up with practicable ideas.

In the Consultation meeting, comprehensive discussion was held concerning the health of newborn children and adolescents, besides discussion and orientation on how Health & Family welfare department may work together with Social Welfare, Public Health Engineering, Power & Electricity, Education and Rural Development.

M.Sathiyavathy IAS, Chief Secretary, who was the guest of honour, oriented the gathering on the initiatives of various departments for decreasing IMR and MMR with the topic "inter-sectoral convergence" .

On behalf of UNICEF, Dr.Suddha Balakhrishnan, health specialist spoke on the topic "Call to Action for Child Survival & Development" .

From 4 districts-Lawngtlai, Lunglei, Mamit and Saiha, deputy commissioners and heads of Social Welfare, PHE, P&E, Education, Rural Development and Health departments attended the consultation meeting, which was also attended by representatives from UNICEF, Delhi and RRC-NE Guwahati.

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